Hyderabad: Of late, legend Hero and TDP MLA from Hindupur, Nandamuri Balakrishna is becoming more popular than his son-in-law and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, in the party circles as well as in government.
“Balakrishna is the son of a former Chief Minister N T Ramarao, and Lokesh is the son of the present Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. But, when it comes to dealing with them, officials in the government and senior leaders in party, including minister were more comfortable with Balakrishna than Lokesh,” said a senior leader from the party. Real or not, these days, the popularity of Lokesh is going down for all the wrong reasons. Contrary to this, the popularity graph of Balakrishna is souring up. On condition of anonymity, a senior minister pointed out, “Lokesh is more demanding, whereas Balakrishna is accommodative, it is this differences between the two making both the leaders and officials feel more comfortable with Balakrishna,” he added.
As an MLA, Balakrishna did sported certain controversies in regard to transfer of a senior official, and party men from Hindupur expressing their displeasure, when the actor turned politician’s PA was made to deal with certain constituency duties in his absence. Except these two, there was hardly any issue with his, feels officials. Balakrishna is a novice in regard to dealing with many issues and workings of the administration. However, he roll out the list of development works of his constituency, sits with officials and patiently listens to them and the rules pertaining in taking up the works. And, it seems he don’t want to be seen as a violator of breaking rules while getting things done. So, even officials are walking an extra mile to accommodate, a senior official said.
But, quite contrary to this, Lokesh is more demanding. He makes a decision and wanted it to be done. Even senior officials and minister are increasingly getting offended, because of the way the “Chinna Babu” functions, they allege. Balakrishna approaches officials and ministers. He takes out some of his time and meets officials and ministers at the state secretariat, asking for funds and requesting for speed clearance of files relating to the works of his constituency, said a minister.
However, due to the mounting pressure from party men on us, back in our own constituencies we will have go in person to Lokesh to make a request for nominated posts to the party workers from our constituency and district. Yet, there is no guarantee that our requests could get a positive response. “Father-in-law comes to us giving respect to our seniority in the party and being ministers in the government. But, it is we who will have to go to son-in-law, when it comes to our issues. Even he likes to take review meetings with the ministers,” another minister expresses his anguish. This is all what is making party men and official and minister feel that Balakrishna is better than Lokesh. Meanwhile, the YSRCP is all set to raise the issue of excess interference of Lokesh in the administration, following allegations that a senior bureaucrat from Medical and Health, Municipal Administration, forest department have been shunted out from their posts, for refusing to go out of the way in meeting the demands placed before them.
Rumours doing rounds in the corridors of power says that in a latest episode a bureaucrat will have to hear an earful of abuses from a ruling party MP, when he had advised him as to why can’t he meet “Chinna Babu” for getting his things done.
