The appointment of senior IAS officer K Vijayanand as the new chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh, superseding at least five other IAS officers senior to him, is believed to be an indication to the growing influence of Telugu Desam Party general secretary and state IT minister Nara Lokesh over the administration.
Amidst reports that TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is slowly grooming his son as the heir apparent, there has been a talk that Lokesh is calling shots both in the party as well as in the administration and gradually gaining control over the system.
Reports in a section of media said the selection of Vijayanand as the chief secretary was purely the choice of Lokesh, as he had worked as the principal secretary, information technology, during the earlier stint of Lokesh in the Naidu cabinet.
“Both Vijayanand and Lokesh share good relations. At the same time, Lokesh has been closely following the functioning of several IAS and IPS officers, their interests and political connections. This will help him if he takes over the reins of the party and the government in the coming years,” sources said.
While Naidu is taking most of the important decisions, his priorities are rebuilding Amravati capital city and completing Polavaram project during his tenure. So, Lokesh is handling other decisions which will be implemented after consulting with his father.
Even with regard to political decisions, it is Lokesh, who is said to be taking key decisions.
“The selection of controversial businessman Sana Satish Babu for the Rajya Sabha seat was purely Lokesh’s choice, though there were other contenders for the seat including P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Galla Jayadev and Kambhampati Rammohan Rao,” sources said.
Analysts say the emergence of Lokesh as a key player in the party and the government is basically because Naidu might not be as active as he is when the state goes to polls in 2029, when he turns 79 years.
“So, he has to groom his son and hence he is giving freedom to Lokesh,” an analyst added.