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Published Oct 05, 2025 | 1:22 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 05, 2025 | 1:22 PM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a meeting with his cabinet colleagues.
In the latest Cabinet meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reportedly handed district in-charge ministers an unusual new responsibility: Babysitting MLAs in their districts. Apart from portfolios, they must now ensure that the “honourable” members of the Assembly don’t cross the political Lakshman Rekha.
Naidu’s brief was clear: Ministers should focus on political coordination while leaving administration to district collectors. In the Assembly, floor management is a must, he is understood to have pointed out.
The trigger for this fresh assignment? A few TDP MLAs went a little off-script during the recent Assembly session.
Apparently, Naidu doesn’t want any more surprise “open mic” moments. He reminded ministers that they should know in advance what their MLAs plan to say — so that the ruling alliance doesn’t end up red-faced.
In fact, there have been awkward moments aplenty. A few MLAs embarrassed Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, as well as a Jana Sena minister Kandula Durgesh, in Naidu’s Cabinet.
Hindupur MLA and actor N Balakrishna’s jabs at Chiranjeevi, for instance, entertained the galleries but were less amusing for Pawan Kalyan, the megastar’s younger brother.
Balakrishna’s other quip landed squarely on Kandula Durgesh. Another MLA, meanwhile, grumbled about the functioning of the Pollution Control Board — an agency overseen by Pawan Kalyan himself.
Now comes the million-dollar question: Will MLAs actually listen to these in-charge ministers? Some senior legislators, still sulking over being left out of the Cabinet, might ask, “Why should we?”
Let us be honest — can anyone really rein in Balakrishna? Would he listen to, say, Anantapur in-charge Minister TG Bharat? For that matter, even for Naidu himself, it is a difficult proposition.
On the surface, it seems Naidu is merely outsourcing the MLA-control department. However, scratch deeper and a troubling possibility emerges: Is Naidu quietly letting TDP MLAs needle Jana Sena ministers, while publicly asking his own ministers to keep order? If so, the ministers may end up playing referees in a match where their own captain is deciding the fouls.
The Assembly session may have ended, but one thing is certain: The future promises no shortage of stand-up comedy scenes in the House — with ministers cast as stage managers, while no one listens to them. An engaging sitcom, Andhra style!
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
