Dr K Lakshminarayana to be TTD chairman

Vijayawada: The state government is all set to appoint retired IAS officer Dr K. Lakshminarayana as the chairman of TTD. Despite extensive lobbying by MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and MP Murali Mohan, the gover-nment has decided not to give the post to an MLA or MP. The appointment of IAS officer Anil Kumar Singhal to the post of TTD EO had sparked a controversy as he was from the north, and the government is trying to overcome the hurdle by appointing Dr Laksminarayana, who is founder director of the Andhra Pr-adesh State Skill Development Corporation: He is also a close aide of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The state government has adopted a new policy for the nomination of candidates for the post of TTD chairman. Keeping in mind how charges of money laundering against Mr Sekhar Reddy, a former TTD board member, have tarnished the image of the TTD, the government has decided to steer clear of politicians and businessmen in the chairman appointment.

It has also kept in mind the allegations against Mr D.K. Adikesavulu Naidu and Mr T. Subbirami Reddy while framing its policy. The government has tried to compensate for the appointment of a north Indian as TTD EO with the naming of a south Indian IAS officer as chairman. Mr Lakshmina-rayana’s candidature has received a positive response from all sectors.

Mr Lakshminarayana has been a close associate of Mr Naidu since 1972. They were students at Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati. In 1978, Mr Naidu was elected as an MLA, while Mr Lakshminarayana was selected as a Group I officer by the APPSC. When Mr Naidu became a minister in 1980, Mr Lakshminarayana worked in his peshi. Mr Lakshminarayana worked at the Chief Minister’s office during NTR’s reign from 1983 to 1989, and during Mr Naidu’s first reign from 1995 to 2004. There is no officer with as much experience and knowledge of administration as Mr Lakshminarayana. He has also managed to maintain extensive relations with leaders from almost all political parties.
A senior IAS officer said Mr Lakshminarayana was a good choice for the post of TTD chairman, as devotion and integrity were the top requirement for such positions. The selection of a candidate who was away from politics, and who was non-controversial, was a good sign.