Till recently Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said to be one of the `favourite’ minister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The Chief Minister was earlier seen in appreciating him for speedy execution of irrigation works like Pattiseema.

Moreover, his spontaneous retorts to the accusations of opposition members, particularly his frequent tirade against Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, makes him closer to the Chief Minister.

However, in recent times Naidu said to be seen impatient with several gaps he has been observing in irrigation sector. For the first time, a Chief Minister was forced to seek an apology from the displaced persons under Vamsadhara project in Srikakulam district.

The Chief Minister was upset when around 6,000 people from 29 villages of Hira and Kottur mandals had set fire to at least a dozen vehicles belonging to Soma Construction Company to protest against delay in implementation of rehabilitation and compensation package. He became angry with the irrigation minister, besides district Minister K Achamnaidu and asked them why it was not executed though a GO was issued way back in June, 2016.

Chandrababu Naidu was also said to be unhappy with the delay in implementation of compensation and rehabilitation package for Pulichinthala displaced people. Moreover, he was discontent with the negative publicity being carried out by the opposition making severe corrupt allegations in the irrigation sector. According to a senior official an impression is being spreading that irrigation it the most corrupt department in the government.

However, according to close associates of Devineni, the minister is being targeted only for `face saving’ and like any other ministry here also he was kept as a silent spectator in most of crucial policy decisions and also in their executions.