Andhra Pradesh: It’s tumultuous time for Andhra Pradesh universities

Tirupati: Putting an end to speculations after the change of power in the state, the vice-chancellors of Sri Venkateswara University and Dravidian University have resigned. Higher education institutions also came under focus after the formation of the government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, as there was criticism of too much political interference in universities during the previous government. Soon after the YSRCP government came to power in 2019, party workers did not allow the vice-chancellors appointed by the previous government to continue and forcibly made them resign in some universities. SV University and Dravidian University were also in that list. Now repeating the same, students’ unions affiliated to the TDP mounted pressure on SVU vice-chancellor Prof V Srikanth Reddy to step down and staged a protest in his chamber and misbehaved with him. Subsequently, he left the chamber and did not attend his duties from the campus since June 7. He marked his presence from his bungalow only to look after urgent work. It is learnt that he had attempted to seek the government’s nod to continue in the post, as he has completed only six months of his three-year term. But as he reportedly did not get any positive signals, a few days ago Srikanth Reddy vacated the government bungalow and sent his resignation to the concerned department. The registrar had resigned on June 5, a day after the counting of votes, while the post of rector has been lying vacant for over a year. Accordingly, there is no head left to lead the academic and administrative affairs in the university. Before stepping down, Srikanth Reddy has appointed joint registrar Chandraiah as registrar-in-charge. The Dravidian university in Kuppam has been mired in long-running controversies, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announcing sweeping reforms aimed at enhancing its prestige during his recent visit. As a result, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kolakaluri Madhu Jyothi resigned on Friday, completing six months of her term since her appointment in December 2023. Reports suggest that the government has verbally instructed other vice-chancellors to resign as well, although some have resisted, citing their three-year appointment and questioning the need to resign prematurely. The unfolding developments will reveal the government’s strategy to bring about sweeping changes in universities, potentially aimed at reducing political influence within campuses, especially from the YSRCP.