AP Coalition Government: Who Are the Top 4 Ministers Facing Corruption Allegations?
TDP leaders say that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has a keen interest in conducting surveys and assigning rankings. When it comes to governance, he reportedly ranks everyone from ministers to IAS officers based on their performance. Recently, he assigned rankings based on how quickly ministers were clearing files related to their respective departments. This received considerable coverage in the media. While that is one aspect, an interesting discussion is now taking place among TDP leaders themselves over the corruption rankings of ministers in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s Cabinet. The coalition government is facing allegations of being embroiled in corruption on a scale never seen before. TDP leaders themselves claim that several ministers are engaging in large-scale irregularities by interfering not only in their own departments but also in the affairs of other departments. However, not everyone has the opportunity to interfere in departments other than their own. According to party leaders, this special privilege is available only to a select few who enjoy the backing of the party leadership.
Setting aside the top three positions in the coalition government as a whole and looking only at the ministers, TDP leaders say that a minister from the undivided Guntur district has secured first place in corruption rankings across the government. Moreover, he has recently become a particular favourite of influential people within the government. Regardless of the criticism or allegations levelled against him, nobody dares to speak out. As a result, he has come to enjoy a situation in which things go according to his wishes within the government. TDP leaders have revealed that a minister from Rayalaseema, who is already allegedly making money through multiple channels, has secured second place in the corruption rankings. They allege that he is collecting huge sums from all power projects being established in his district and that no work can move forward there without his approval. They also claim that he is securing contracts from these power projects for his close associates and benefiting from those arrangements as well.
Furthermore, there is talk that he is pursuing both personal interests and other vested interests in the works undertaken by his own department. It is not just power projects; they allege that he must also receive his share from irrigation projects and virtually every other project in the district. One minister remarked that nobody in the Cabinet possesses the same skill as this minister when it comes to winning over influential leaders. This gives an idea of his abilities. When he speaks, one might think he is exceptionally honest. However, the activities allegedly carried out behind the scenes would leave anyone astonished. After the first and second positions, TDP leaders have assigned third place in the corruption rankings to another minister from the undivided Krishna district. They allege that although extra-constitutional forces have considerable influence over his department, no file moves forward unless he receives his share.
They say that things are handled very smoothly in this department, without much fuss. Rather than attracting attention, everyone is quietly going about their business. A powerful minister from a district located close to the capital has reportedly secured fourth place in the corruption rankings. According to discussions among the TDP leaders who finalised these rankings, the main reason is that people other than the minister himself have greater influence over his department. This is the story of the top four ministers whose alleged corruption rankings are being widely discussed among TDP leaders. Although several other ministers are also facing corruption allegations, TDP leaders say that these four alone have secured the top four positions in the rankings.
