Mayor-minister rift hurts the functioning of Nellore civic body

Nellore: Lack of coordination between mayor Abdul Aziz and the Urban development minister P. Narayana has been affecting the functioning of Nellore civic body. While the minister wants the mayor to allot the development works in Nellore city and Rural constituencies as per the directions of TD Assembly segment in-charges M. Sridharkrishna Reddy and Adala Prabhakar Reddy, Mr Aziz, who is aspiring for Nellore City Assembly seat, is reluctant to do so because he won’t get any mileage.

Moreover, he cannot follow instructions of the TD in-charges at least in 17 divisions because he is obligated to the corporators concerned as they migrated to TD along with him. Sources in the TD said the mayor stands against acting as per the orders of in-charges has placed the minister in a piquant situation since it is his duty to be seen that party policy of running the show through party in-charges where there are no legislators of the TD.

“Usually legislators of the ruling party will hold sway over corporation affairs because they select candidates and provide them funds during civic body polls. However, legislators belong to YSR Congress in Nellore and Nellore Rural which are part of Nellore Corporation” a follower of the mayor said. He justified the stand of the mayor reminding that Mr Abdul Aziz had funded the electioneering of all civic body members and there is nothing wrong in opposing the rule of in-charges in his jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress Corporators, who are criticising the mayor day in and day out, softened their stand understandably for political advantage and offered their support to him after noticing the cold war between him and the minister. TD corporators are amused over the new-found bonhomie between the mayor and YSRC civic body members.

TD leaders said the party general-secretary Nara Lokesh has intervened and settled the issue and there are no differences between him and the minister now. Mr Abdul Aziz said “Minister is my guru (teacher) in the college and we have a very long association and it is not limited to five years. We debate, we argue and come to a conclusion on whoever is right. Our objective is to develop Nellore and ensure TD victory in all the 10 Assembly seats.”