IYR Krishna Rao to be CS of AP - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: Chief Commissioner of Land Administration IYR Krishna Rao is all set to become the chief secretary of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, and the Chief Minister's Office (CMO)of N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to have three principal secretaries and one secretary.

Those tipped for the Chief Minister's Office are Ajay Sawhney, A Giridhar and G Sai Prasad, all of the rank of principal secretary, and K Madhusdhana Rao, who is of the rank of secretary.

Incidentally, Krishna Rao and Ajay Sawhney accompanied Chandrababu Naidu when he called on Governor ESL Narasimhan earlier in the day, more or less confirming their new postings.

Krishna Rao lost out in the race to become the chief secretary last year when the then Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy preferred PK Mohanty. In February, Mohanty was given extension and he is set to demit office by the end of this month.

Chandrababu Naidu, however, still seems to be mulling over his choice of Director General of Police (DGP) and other top police officials.

Incumbent DGP B Prasada Rao is due to retire only next year and replacing him would be a tricky affair as he has been appointed in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh case.

Apart from a two-year tenure for DGP, the Supreme Court also laid down the causes which could be used for removing a serving officer, but none of them can be applied in his case.

Initially Chandrababu Naidu reportedly toyed with the idea of bringing in Special Protection Group (SPG) Director K Durga Prasad from Delhi, but now seems to be considering other names as well.

The TDP circles are floating the name of Grey Hounds chief and senior IPS officer JV Ramudu as one of the choices. Regardless of whom Naidu would prefer, making the crucial appointment may not be easy.

The catch here is that Ramudu is due to retire in just two months from now, on July 31, and the recommendation may not pass the UPSC test if the government chooses to refer the matter to it.

The state government can of course make the appointment without reference to the UPSC and then give an extension. It remains to be seen how Chandrababu Naidu would proceed in this critical appointment.

Meanwhile, another senior IPS officer, Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, in all likelihood will head the intelligence wing of the AP Police in his rank as additional DG.