TD leader Nara Lokesh’s aide parts from CMO

Hyderabad: S. Abhista, a close aide of TD leader Nara Lokesh, has resigned as officer on special duty at the Chief Minister’s Office. In his resignation letter, which he mailed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu a week ago, Mr Abhista reportedly said that he was unable to work for both the government and the party. He said he would continue to work for the TD.

According to sources in the CMO, Mr Abhista wrote in his letter “I am not interested in designations (OSD), I will continue to attend party work.”

Mr Abhista reportedly said he had no time to meet visitors. Besides, the confidential nature of his government duties was an impediment to his meeting visitors.

Before the TD came to power in 2014, Mr Abhista, an IT expert, worked with Mr Lokesh. He conducted many surveys relating to party affairs in the past. Along with Mr Lokesh, he played a key role in taking the Telugu Desam’s membership drive online.

After the TD came to power, it was said that Mr Abhista was appointed OSD in the CMO on the recommendation of Mr Lokesh. He was allotted the IT, infrastructure and e-governance departments and continued to attend to party work.

CMO sources said that Mr Naidu had not accepted the resignation of Mr Abhista. The CMO sources said Mr Abhista had gone to Coimbatore and would continue to work in the CMO.