Date:12/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/12/stories/2008021255100600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Tekkali MLA asks IAS officer to prove charges

Special Correspondent

Srikakulam: The spat between senior Congress legislator Hanumanthu Appayya Dora (Tekkali) and young IAS officer and Tekkali Sub-Collector Mudavat Naik is snowballing into a major controversy.

The former dubbed the latter ‘dictator’ and the latter responded by asserting that he would not be ‘cowed down’ by such statements. “Politicians and MLAs will have an inclination to develop a constituency into their pocket borough. They rub shoulders with contractors and earn money. We don’t need to do that. I came here to serve people and will do so. I am prepared to face any enquiry,” Mr. Naik told a press conference recently reacting to criticism by the MLA on his style of functioning.

Now it was the turn of Mr. Dora, who said, “Let him show a single instance where I had collected money from contractors or tried to blackmail officials. I will resign from the Assembly if it is proved. During my 55 years of political life I had never seen such an officer.

The veteran MLA feels the Sub-Collector has been misusing his position and had joined hands with the TDP leaders.

Expectedly, some Congress leaders reacted sharply to the comments of Mr. Naik. However, outfits like Adivasi Vikash Parishad and other NGOs came in support of Mr. Naik.

Land distribution

Trouble started with regard to distribution of pattas under the fourth phase of land distribution programme. A date was fixed for the event.

Mr. Dora, who was unwell, wanted it to be postponed to which Mr. Naik did not agree on the plea that information had been sent to hundreds of beneficiaries.

Mr. Dora was not the only ruling party MLA ‘upset’ with Mr, Naik’s style of functioning. Another Congress MLA, Naresh Kumar Agarwal (Itchapuram) also nursed a similar grouse. Some Congress leaders were apparently at loggerheads with senior officials on various issues.

Three Collectors were posted in the district after the Congress came to power. Officers in the Revenue Department feel that the previous two Collectors -- Nageswara Rao and Koteswara Rao --were transferred because of political pressure.

The less than one year stint of Mr. Koteswara Rao was quite stormy and TDP leaders used to say openly that his ‘packing off from the district was matter of months’.

They proved to be correct.