South First had earlier reported that Vijayanand had the upper hand despite other, more senior candidates, due to his proximity to Nara Lokesh.
Published Dec 29, 2024 | 8:24 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 30, 2024 | 8:45 AM
Chandrababu Naidu & K Vijayanand
Andhra Pradesh may get a new Chief Secretary as early as Monday, with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu having made his choice. Sources from within the Andhra Pradesh government tell South First that K Vijayanand, a 1992 batch IAS officer, is set to take charge as Chief Secretary, pipping other frontrunners to the post. The file has reached the Chief Minister’s desk, and a Government Order (GO) appointing the new Chief Secretary is expected to be issued on Monday.
This decision confirms that the current Chief Secretary, Neerabh Kumar Prasad, will not receive an extension beyond 31 December, the date of his superannuation. South First had earlier reported that Vijayanand held an advantage despite the presence of more senior candidates, largely because of his close association with Nara Lokesh, the Chief Minister’s son and the incumbent Minister of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, and Human Resource Development.
Seven officers were in contention for the coveted Chief Secretary post. G Sai Prasad (1991 batch) and K Vijayanand (1992 batch) were the frontrunners.
The other five – Y Srilakshmi (1988), G Anantha Ramu (1990), Ajay Jain, Sumita Dawra, and RP Sisodia (all 1991 batch) – were considered but overlooked for various reasons.
Although Sai Prasad is senior, the critical factor that swung the decision in Vijayanand’s favour was the strong backing he has from Minister Nara Lokesh, who is widely regarded within the government and the party as the second-in-command.
According to sources, Vijayanand’s prior experience in heading both the Industries and Power departments was highlighted as a key factor supporting his elevation. He worked closely with Lokesh during the latter’s previous tenure as a minister between 2014 and 2019. Those advocating for Vijayanand also pointed out that, unlike Sai Prasad, he has spent his entire career in Andhra Pradesh.
Within the TDP, there is a faction not favourably disposed towards Sai Prasad, the current Special Chief Secretary (Water Resources).
Another important factor is that Vijayanand, the Special Chief Secretary (Energy), belongs to a Backward Class (BC) community. Appointing him is seen as a move that would send the right message, given that the BC community has been the backbone of the TDP since its formation.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
