AP Government's Official Message Sparks Ministerial Status Controversy

There is a clear distinction between a Cabinet Minister and a person holding Cabinet rank. Not everyone with Cabinet rank is a minister. However, in the Andhra Pradesh government, the situation appears to have become confusing. A wireless message sent by the government has now Sparked discussion over how Cabinet rank is being used. The Andhra Pradesh government recently appointed former MLA Pendurthi Venkatesh as the Coordinator for the Chief Minister's Programmes. He was also accorded Cabinet rank. There has been no controversy over that appointment. As is well known, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh on August 1. Preparations for the event are in full swing, with the state government spending crores of rupees to organize the inauguration on a grand scale. To coordinate the Chief Minister's visit, CM Programmes Coordinator Pendurthi Venkatesh has already reached Visakhapatnam.

However, a wireless message sent by his office to officials in Vijayawada, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam districts referred to Pendurthi Venkatesh as the "Minister for Chief Minister's Programmes." This has triggered discussion, with many asking when Andhra Pradesh got a new minister. Officials say that unnecessary controversies are arising because of the overenthusiasm of some staff members in official offices. The wireless message, sent in the name of Pendurthi Venkatesh's OSD, Shayajirao, was circulated to officials in several districts. It was in this message that Pendurthi Venkatesh was described as a minister. While this is one issue, allegations are also being heard that the functioning of some staff members in the offices of Andhra Pradesh ministers has become increasingly arbitrary.