Senior IAS officer and principal secretary in Andhra Pradesh chief minister’s office Praveen Prakash has pleaded innocence over the charges of alleged defiance of the orders of state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar.
He wrote a letter to chief secretary Adityanath Das, in response to the letter written by Nimmagadda ordering his immediate transfer from the post for failing to act upon the orders of the SEC.
Referring to the SEC as “Rames sir,” Praveen Prakash said he was only one of the CMO officials who would be reporting to the chief secretary.
He also said he was not a decision-making authority and therefore, Nimmagadda should communicate with the chief secretary, but not with the CMO official directly.
“So, holding me accountable for not replying to the SEC notices is in what way justifiable sir? Is it fair? Is it ethical, sir?” he asked.
Referring to the allegations that he had influenced Collectors, SPs and Other Officers suggesting them to refrain from attending the SEC’s video conference on January 23, he said he had only maintained status quo in the intervening period between the judgements of the high court and supreme court.
“The decision to maintain status quo was taken to avoid creating the confusion in the field about the gram panchayath elections. In what way I am involved in stopping the officers from participating in the video conference? Is it fair, sir?” he asked.
With regard to the SEC’s charge that he had defied the EC in the past when he was the collector of Visakhapatnam and Ranga Reddy districts, Praveen Prakash said he had already given an explanation to the EC which had condoned his action and closed the matter.
“The same EC deputed me to Bihar and Tamil Nadu on election duties. The responsibility given to me in 2014 and 2017 clearly demonstrated that the nation has a faith in me and my capabilities,” he asserted.
“I have submitted all the facts in this regard to your attention to dispel the any kind of misconception on me or on my character. I will humbly accept any decision or punishment awarded to me in this regard by you with humility,” Praveen Prakash said.