BRS Nominees Hang on to Crucial Posts Even as Congress Government Readies for First Anniversary

Hyderabad: The Congress government in Telangana is approaching its first anniversary in office in another two weeks, yet several high-ranking officials appointed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime continue to retain their positions, raising eyebrows within administrative circles. Despite a review of their roles and perceived loyalties to BRS leadership, no concrete action has been taken to replace these individuals, sparking criticism and speculation.

Among the most notable names are Shakti Nagappan, director of life sciences and pharma; N.V.S. Reddy (managing director of HMRL); Amarnath Reddy Atmakuri (chief relations officer-Information Technology, electronics and communications department) and Archana Suresh (director of T-SIG), the CSR wing of the state government.

Reports suggest that these officials remain closely aligned with former IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and the BRS leadership. The review undertaken by the Congress government reportedly highlighted that many of these officials had worked in close proximity with Rama Rao and continue to maintain cordial relationships with him. Their social media activity reflects this loyalty, as few of them follow and engage with Rama Rao’s platforms while ignoring Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and official government handles. Despite these findings, no replacements or show-cause notices have been issued, leading to speculation about influential figures shielding these officials.

The re-evaluation reportedly found that they had failed to meet the expectations of the current administration.

Nagappan played a key role in the BRS government's pet project, Hyderabad Pharma City, which has since been scrapped by the Congress government. Nagappan is considered to be very close to Rama Rao. The review found that he had failed to deliver on key pharma projects over the past one year.

N.V.S. Reddy's public remarks about Hyderabad Metro Rail's financial struggles have drawn sharp criticism. He recently stated that the project is burdened with over Rs.6,000 crore in losses and has failed to attract private or institutional funding for expansion. These comments have undermined the Congress government’s and Revanth Reddy's push for Metro Rail expansion, prompting discussions about finding a replacement from the Indian Railway Service. Although he managed to survive in this position since 2007, his exit looks imminent with his controversial remarks on Metro Rail expansion.

Amarnath Reddy, despite his 10-year tenure under the BRS regime, continues to exhibit social media loyalty towards Rama Rao. The social media audit revealed that he continues to follow Rama Rao on social media platforms but ignores Revanth Reddy.

Archana Suresh is facing allegations of her ongoing collaboration with the BRS’s IT and social media wings, which have led to concerns about her impartiality.

The Congress government is reportedly keen to ensure that state-led organisations operate without political interference. A recommendation has been made to replace these officials as part of a broader effort to restore the autonomy and efficiency of state institutions.

This initiative aligns with the Chief Minister’s agenda to reorient the government’s focus towards innovation and entrepreneurship, free from the lingering influences of the BRS regime.

While the Congress government has yet to take decisive action, sources suggest that a reshuffle of key positions is on the cards. This is seen as a critical move as it can bolster the Congress government’s image and ensure smooth execution of its policies in the coming years.