When the YSR Congress Party, led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, was in power in Andhra Pradesh, the government had more than 50 advisors across various fields, drawing significant criticism from various quarters.
While most of these positions were seen as ornamental with little substantive work, a few individuals were truly deserving of their roles.
Notable examples include former Union Finance Secretary Subhash Garg, who served as the advisor for resource mobilization; Dr. K Srinath Reddy, advisor for public health; and Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu, who also focused on health issues.
After the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition, headed by N. Chandrababu Naidu, came to power in June 2024, all these advisors resigned from their posts, with some being asked to step down.
The Naidu government swiftly removed all these advisors. However, Naidu himself has appointed a few advisors over the past nine months, though their numbers remain limited.
Interestingly, one individual who served as an advisor under the Jagan Mohan Reddy government was also retained by Naidu.
This individual is Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu, a renowned radio-oncologist. Earlier this week, Naidu appointed him as the government's advisor on cancer.
Dr. Dattatreyudu met with the Chief Minister last Monday to discuss issues related to cancer, and on this occasion, the Chief Minister released his autobiography.
Within hours, Naidu issued orders formalizing his appointment as a government advisor.
Naidu stated that the government would work closely with Dr. Dattatreyudu, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced medical practices to prevent cancer and provide the best oncology care to patients in the state.
Dr. Dattatreyudu's association with the Andhra Pradesh government dates back to September 2021, when he met Jagan Mohan Reddy to discuss public health, particularly the development of comprehensive cancer care in the state.
Shortly after this meeting, Jagan appointed him as a government advisor.
His reappointment under Naidu's administration highlights his expertise and the continued importance of his role in addressing cancer-related challenges in Andhra Pradesh.