Though Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is known for his pro-active involvement in relief operations and prefer to remain present at the ground-level soon after any natural calamity, often it has been leading to causing criticism stating that in fact prevents field level officers from responding aggressively.
Chandrababu Naidu has been confining to Vijayawada sub-collector since Sunday evening after Vijayawada city was hit by unprecedented floods, havoc and even night times moving around monitoring relief activities. However, except two or three ministers, most of his cabinet colleagues are not seen at the field level.
Particularly the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and two other ministers from Jana Sena at field level felt to be conspicuous. Even YCP leaders targeted Pawan Kalyan for his absence. But, his strong rejoinder to such criticisms in a way, many felt, looks like targeting the Chief Minister.
More particularly, his comment that “I should help and not be a hindrance,” is believed to be a direct reference to the Chief Minister’s presence everywhere, keeping all others away. Even some officials felt that instead of trying to act like a team leader and monitoring their activities, giving a picture that he is only struggling hard in fact hampers relief operations.
Asserting that there is no need to care about the criticism by YCP that he did not go to the flood areas, Pawan Kalyan accused that it was a deliberate criticism. Giving clarification for his absence in the fields, he said that he did not visit the flood areas so as not to disturb the relief work. But, he said that his departments were working.
Moreover, Pawan Kalyan said that he did not go there as per the instructions of the authorities and also because he thought that the situation would be different if he went there when the rescue operations were going on.
He said that although he did not physically visit the flood affected areas, he is monitoring all the relief activities. He said that he has intensified the relief programs by reviewing the performance of the respective departments from time to time.
“The criticism that I did not come out is unnecessary. The Panchayat Raj department is running full support programs. Not only have I come out, but I have been doing the things I do with the authorities from time to time. Officials are struggling for 72 hours. I didn’t want to bother them by coming on tour. That’s why I didn’t go to flood areas. I thought I would visit the flood affected areas on the 1st, but I didn’t realize that there would be a problem with relief efforts if I did. “I should help and not be a hindrance,” the Deputy Chief Minister clarified.