TG Venkatesh's outbursts point to a deeper divide between ministers and officers
Hyderqabad: Several ministers in Kiran Kumar Reddy Cabinet are said to be upset with their secretaries and other officials. It is officers vs ministers for quiet some time in the state.
Minor irrigation minister TG Venkatesh, on Thursday, did not hide his aversion towards IAS officers and called non-performing officers 'sannasis'. Venkatesh has rebuked IAS officers publicly on an earlier occasion too.
There are also several other instances where ministers and officers locked horns. Recently, textiles minister Gaddam Prasad Kumar blamed IAS officers Sabyasachi Ghosh and D Srinivasulu saying they have issued as many as nine government orders (GOs) without his knowledge. The minister lodged a complaint with chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy.
A few months ago, stamps and registration minister Thota Narasimham was shocked when he got to read in newspapers that an order was issued hiking registration fee under certain categories. He wanted to rollback the hike immediately and the government cancelled the GO. The minister, who is supposed to decide policy matters, ended up demanding cancellation of a GO of his own department.
In another instance, when government employees disclosed their recent deliberations with chief secretary Minnie Mathew concerning health cards, some ministers were uncomfortable.
Issuing health cards to around 10 lakh workforce in the state was a major achievement and the ministers did not want the entire credit go to the chief secretary. Though the health cards are supposed to be issued from January 1, it was delayed due to the 'leak' by employees.
Finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy called the media hurriedly and announced that it was the chief minister who has to take a decision on health cards.
The alleged differences between infrastructure and investment minister Ganta Srinivas and his secretary Sunil Sharma resulted in the transfer of Sharma early this week.
Likewise, animal husbandry minister P Viswarup was unhappy with his officers for making some shuffling in the department without his knowledge.
The main reason for the differences between mantris and babus is that several ministers are first-timers and the officers were very senior. As a result, the ministers who are expected to ensure that officers deliver the goods, are unable to wield any control over them.
"I was bypassed by my officers as I am a junior minister. My secretaries are seniors," lamented a minister.
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I was bypassed by my officers as I am a junior minister. My secretaries are seniors. -a minister
GRAPHIC
THE FUMING FEW
Ganta Srinivas shunted out his secretary Sunil Sharma.
TG Venkatesh gets into the offensive against IAS officers frequently.
Ministers are not ready to allow credit going to the chief secretary and as a result the file pertaining to employees' health cards was delayed.
Viswarupu is unhappy with his officers over the goings-on in his department.
Prasad Kumar and Thota Narasimham are upset over being kept in the dark over GOs of their departments.
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