Hyderabad, June 17: The faith reposed by the people of Andhra Pradesh in his leadership for a second successive term appears to have put Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in an introspective mood.
Close aides of the Chief Minister are said to have suggested a series of steps if Reddy is not to meet the same fate as that of his predecessor Nara Chandrababu Naidu who lost power in 2004 after two terms in office and failed to gain the confidence of voters even after being in the Opposition for five years.
The fineprint behind the outcome of the 2009 elections in which the ruling Congress just about managed to get the requisite majority formed the basis for their varied recommendations to the top man.
Foremost among them is greater accountability among elected representatives and the official machinery. Following up on the stern message he has delivered to ministers at the first meeting of the new Cabinet, the Chief Minister is reportedly contemplating a similar warning to officialdom, particularly those in his peshi. Cracking the whip on erring officials, irrespective of their position is very much on the cards.
Reddy has also realised that he can no longer harp on his familiar refrain — compare ‘my’ performance with that of the previous TDP regime. Having already been at the helm for five years, he will now be judged by how he delivers in his second innings. It is, therefore, imperative for him to plug loopholes and ensure a more effective implementation of the various schemes.
The Chief Minister has reportedly been briefed on how his open criticism of some vernacular dailies has emboldened quite a few Congress leaders to indulge in questionable and corrupt activities. Confident that the Chief Minister would not believe anything published in some of the papers, they (Congress leaders) gave up all scruples in public life.
Creating a private intelligence network to ascertain the truth and initiate action in all such instances of adverse reports in the media is also being contemplated.
According to sources, the ruling Congress is said to be concerned over the state of affairs in municipalities which would go to polls in a year. Whether it be drinking water supply, sanitation or other basic civic amenities, the performance in the past few years has been far from satisfactory.
A majority of the municipal bodies are currently under the control of the Congress which has not performed well in these urban areas in the recent Assembly elections. The anti-incumbency mood might only consolidate further unless urgent corrective measures are taken, the Chief Minister was told.
As he has himself said publicly more than once, Rajasekhara Reddy is not happy with the poll outcome as the gap between the ruling party and the Opposition has come down to just 20 seats.
The choice before him: learn from the mistakes committed by Naidu and not repeat them or slide the way he did.
–Agencies–