Is Nara Lokesh Running Every Department?!
During the YSRCP regime, the then government advisor, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, was popularly referred to as the "Minister for All Departments." Although he was not officially a minister, he would often bypass even senior ministers and announce almost all major government policy decisions himself. That is how he earned the nickname. YSRCP leaders themselves used to openly admit that anyone wishing to meet Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had to first convey the matter to Sajjala, without which it was difficult to get anything done. Now, some ministers reportedly believe that Minister Nara Lokesh has acquired a similar status in the coalition government. Officially, Nara Lokesh is in charge of the Information Technology, Human Resources Development, and Real-Time Governance departments. In the Andhra Pradesh government, T.G. Bharath from Kurnool district holds the Industries & Commerce and Food Processing portfolios. However, despite T.G. Bharath being the Industries Minister in name, discussions within TDP circles suggest that the department is effectively being controlled by Nara Lokesh.
Nara Lokesh is currently on a visit to South Korea to attract investments to the state. Bringing investments and creating employment opportunities is undoubtedly a positive initiative, and no one is questioning that. However, what has become a hot topic in political and bureaucratic circles is that the Industries Minister has been completely sidelined, with the entire exercise revolving around Nara Lokesh. Even during Lokesh's South Korea tour, T.G. Bharath was nowhere to be seen. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has also been stating that the investments coming to the state are the result of the combined efforts of himself and Nara Lokesh. Moreover, it is not just in the IT sector. Even at foundation stone-laying ceremonies for several major industrial projects across the state, Nara Lokesh has been participating as the chief guest, while the Industries Minister remains absent.
Government advertisements, too, are carrying only the photographs of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Minister Nara Lokesh, without featuring the ministers concerned with the respective departments. Beyond that, discussions within the TDP itself suggest that Nara Lokesh now wields considerable influence over several key departments in the Andhra Pradesh government. According to discussions among ministers, nothing happens in key departments such as Energy, Municipal Administration, Mining, and Revenue without Nara Lokesh's knowledge. There is also speculation among government officials and TDP leaders that Vijayarama Raju, considered to be very close to Lokesh, was recently appointed as the CRDA Commissioner to ensure that nothing related to the Amaravati capital project takes place without Lokesh's knowledge.
As a result, ever since Vijayarama Raju assumed charge, there has been speculation within the department that he has been functioning without giving much importance to the directions of Minister Narayana. It is also being alleged that several individuals known to be close associates of Nara Lokesh are interfering extensively in the functioning of key departments. A senior minister reportedly said that these individuals dominate everything from official postings to important government decisions. Though they do not officially hold any positions or appear publicly, there is widespread talk within TDP circles that they are managing affairs over phone calls and through their associates. As a result, despite the change in government, there continues to be someone functioning as the "Minister for All Departments." Earlier, oversight of all departments rested solely with the Chief Minister. But now, according to another minister, that situation has completely changed.
