Amaravati: Neerabh Kumar Prasad has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. He will replace K.S. Jawahar Reddy, who went on leave after the change of power in the state. The order appointing Prasad as the new Chief Secretary was issued on Friday. A day before this, Jawahar Reddy went on leave on ‘personal grounds’. Prasad, a 1987 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was working as Special Chief Secretary in the Department of Environment, Forest and Science and Technology. Also read NDA alliance: Naidu to take oath later, PM Modi to be present The government has transferred Jawahar Reddy but has not given him any post. Chandrababu Naidu, who was sworn in as the new Chief Minister on June 12, wanted a new Chief Secretary to be appointed immediately in place of Jawahar Reddy. Jawahar Reddy was strongly criticized by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for allegedly favoring the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) during the elections. The TDP had repeatedly demanded that the Election Commission of India transfer Jawahar Reddy for his alleged controversial actions after the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
After the TDP-led coalition came to power with a massive majority, Chandrababu Naidu began the exercise of choosing his team of officials. Jawahar Reddy had met Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, however, the latter indicated to the senior official that it would be better for him to go on leave so that the new government could appoint a new chief secretary of its choice. Jawahar Reddy later sent his leave letter to the General Administration Department. Jawahar Reddy took over as the new chief secretary in December 2022 and is due to retire on June 30. The new government may remove those IAS and IPS officers who have allegedly acted in an antagonistic manner towards the TDP in the last five years. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly did not give appointments to some officials on Thursday.
