Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam made sensational comments on the civil services. Political circles were full of wild speculation as to what the real intent of these comments was. Already, there is a vertical division in the IAS officers and Secretariat staff along political lines. Subrahmanyam is facing criticism for the embarrassment being given to CM Chandrababu Naidu in the name of election code even after polling day.

Amid this, Subrahmanyam commented that civil servants’ life has become like a cricket game and wrongly playing just one ball would cost them very badly. He made these remarks addressing the civil services day celebrations. He further cautioned that some officers were making a choice and they would not be able to revise such choices later.

This has triggered internal debate among senior officers within Secretariat whether Chief Secretary’s comments were politically motivated or they were made in right earnest. Was it a warning to officers who were known for their closeness to the Chandrababu Naidu government till now? Whatever it was, the IAS officers are getting caught in the crossfire between pro-YCP Election Commission and the ruling TDP.