Those who have been observing YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in close quarters in the last one year, might have observed a peculiar quality in him.
Jagan respects people who had been loyal to him and the party and also those who had helped him in the past. He offered them good posts and positions to those who he thought were comfortable with him.
But that doesn't mean he will allow them to take him for granted. If he thinks anybody is trying to take advantage of his lenience and blackmail him directly or indirectly, he will not hesitate to drop the person like a hot potato.
If anybody offers to quit the post, but expects Jagan to request him to stay back, he is mistaken. Jagan will never give that opportunity. He will tell the person on his face that he is welcome to quit.
We have seen how veteran journalist K Ramachandra Murthy, who was appointed as advisor to the chief minister (public policy), had to leave the job.
Murthy was feeling uncomfortable in the post and when he told the chief minister that he would quit, the latter did not make any attempt to stop him, but told him to put in his papers.
According to the latest reports, principal secretary in Chief Minister’s Office Praveen Prakash, who had been calling shots in the state administration all these days, also reportedly told Jagan that he would like to go to Central services, as his wife was working in central services in Delhi.
Apparently, Praveen Prakash expected that Jagan would request him to stay back and even offered a suitable position to his wife as well in Andhra. But Jagan reportedly accepted Praveen’s request.
It is learnt Jagan has already made up his mind to relieve Praveen and bring another senior officer S S Rawat in his place in the CMO.
Now, another retired IAS officer P V Ramesh, who is presently advisor to the CM on health affairs, is also learnt to have faced the same experience.
Ramesh, who has reportedly been feeling sidelined without any responsibilities, told Jagan that he would like to resign from the post.
And without blinking an eyelid, Jagan reportedly said: “all the best,” to Ramesh. In all probability, Ramesh will step down from the post by this month end, sources said.
That is Jagan!