Whenever the TDP government comes to power in Andhra Pradesh, a ministerial post for him is guaranteed. Even the Municipal Administration department is invariably handed over to him, as if awarding a contract. The same happened during Chandrababu’s first term after state bifurcation. Now, for the second time as well, the highly crucial Municipal Administration department has again been entrusted to Narayana. Even though the portfolio of Nara Lokesh has changed, Minister Narayana’s Municipal Administration department has not changed. All TDP leaders know the real reasons behind the relationship and close association between Chief Minister Chandrababu and Minister Narayana. However, of late, discussions are going on within TDP circles that somewhere there has been a mismatch in the “calculations.” Along with this mismatch, the manner in which he has been handling the Amaravati issue is said to have pushed the government into further trouble, according to opinions expressed by party leaders.
Especially with regard to the second phase of land pooling for the capital, and the way Minister Narayana and his team dealt with farmers who had already given land for the capital, there has been severe criticism. While farmers who gave land for the capital are already facing many problems, without resolving those issues, proceeding with the second phase of land pooling, and Narayana’s statements that if farmers agree to land pooling it is fine, otherwise land acquisition will be carried out, were seen as threatening in nature. This entire episode turned into a minus for the TDP. Realising that the situation could go out of control, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu formed a committee on the Amaravati issue comprising Union Minister Pemmmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister Narayana, and local MLA Shravan Kumar, as is known. As a result, along with Minister Narayana who had been handling the entire matter single-handedly till then, Pemmmasani Chandra Sekhar and MLA Shravan Kumar are now also dealing with farmers’ issues.
That is why decisions are now coming out somewhat faster compared to the past. However, party leaders feel that even this is not sufficient, and that to review the entire issue and increase the pace of all works, since the coalition government is in power, a committee involving members from Jana Sena as well as the BJP should also be formed. They believe that only if Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu takes decisions from time to time based on feedback from them will there be good results. There is discussion within party circles that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu feels that Minister Narayana is behaving differently this time compared to the past.