Who Is the AP CMO Official Behind Maan Decorators?

Regardless of the district, whenever the Chief Minister has an official programme, the contract is reportedly awarded to the same company. It is said that unofficial instructions have been issued to collectors of all districts by an IAS officer in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Officials revealed that, apart from the CMO officer, another official from the Protocol Department has also played a key role in the entire affair. Not only the official programmes of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, but also the programmes of other key leaders are reportedly being handled by the same organisation. The company in question is Maan Decorators, owned by Sajjan Maan. It is alleged that even the arrangements for programmes organised during visits by VVIPs such as the Prime Minister and the President to the state are being entrusted to this company. A senior IAS officer revealed that the alleged involvement of CMO officials and some General Administration Department (GAD) Protocol officials is behind the practice of ignoring local companies and awarding contracts to a single company across the state.

Officials reportedly justify awarding contracts to this company, starting from Chittoor district to every corner of the state where the Chief Minister's programmes are held, citing its extensive experience in organising events for the Chief Minister and other VVIPs. Officials revealed that the government pays bills worth crores of rupees to this company every year. There is a growing discussion that companies from Rajasthan, particularly Sajjan Maan's organisation, are being favoured over local companies for arrangements at Chief Minister Chandrababu's programmes, including German tents, digital screens and sound systems, thereby causing injustice to companies based in Andhra Pradesh. However, it is alleged that financial benefits are behind the special preference shown to this company by CMO officials and Protocol Department officials. As a result, even in several key districts where companies capable of providing services on par with Maan Decorators are available, they are being ignored, with contracts repeatedly awarded to the same organisation.

Officials said that even for the smallest programme, the bills raised by this company run into crores of rupees. They also stated that the responsibility for organising all official events, including the annual Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations, is being entrusted to this company. Interestingly, Maan Decorators entered the government system after Chandrababu became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh following the state's bifurcation, with the support of a key official in the then CMO. The company's dominance reportedly continued even during the previous YSRCP government. Now, it is said to be continuing its influence with the support of another IAS officer in the CMO. "Even though governments have changed in the state, Maan Decorators is the only thing that has remained unchanged," an official commented.