The sudden demolition of alleged illegal security outposts outside the residence of YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at his Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad has left Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy red-faced.
In all four sheds used to house Jagan’s security and officials from I-PAC, a political consultancy firm, were razed.
The demolitions were carried out by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Saturday, apparently following complaints from the local people who said they were causing traffic congestions in the lane.
Naturally, the demolitions have led to the talk in the YSRCP social media circles and other media groups that Revanth Reddy had got the structures demolished to please his former boss and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh last week.
There were allegations that the TDP leadership was taking revenge on Jagan by getting the security outposts outside his Hyderabad residence demolished.
Even at Jagan’s Tadepalli residence, the new government has ordered removal of all barricades and cleared the path for normal traffic.
However, within hours of the demolition, GHMC zonal commissioner for Khairatabad division, which also covers the Lotus Pond area, Bhorkade Hemant Sahadeorao, was transferred from his post, without being given any position.
Apparently, the Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy ordered his transfer, as he came to know about the demolitions at Lotus Pond only after watching the news on TV.
He directed GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Kata to look into the matter and take appropriate action, resulting in sudden transfer of Zonal Commissioner.
Revanth Reddy came to know that the demolitions were carried out following oral instructions from his cabinet colleague, supposedly from southern Telangana, without informing the CMO or the GHMC commissioner.
Officials indicated that neither the former Chief Minister nor the intelligence agencies had prior knowledge of the demolition of the structures at the Lotus Pond area.
A senior official of the GHMC's town planning department said that they have informed the concerned persons at Jagan's residence to remove the structures six months ago to carry out the footpath work.
"We have been telling them to remove the structures to facilitate footpath work. The residents of the colony have also complained about the encroachment of the footpath which caused inconvenience to the road users," the official said.
Yet, Revanth was not happy. Though he knows who the minister who ordered the demolitions was, he did not reveal the name. Sources said the minister is from Nalgonda, who has been nursing a grouse against the chief minister.
“He wanted to embarrass Revanth Reddy by ordering the demolition. But Revanth took quick action; otherwise, he would have to face the blame,” sources added.