The moves and counter-moves between the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government and the state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar have created an unhealthy atmosphere in the state.
What is being witnessed in the state now is just a clash of egos between Nimmagadda and the ruling party, rather than a war between two institutions over the procedures. Both the sides seem to have taken the issues personally and are trying to outwit each other.
Analysts say having won the legal battle and gaining an upper hand over the government, Nimmagadda should have acted with restraint rather than stretching the things too far.
Though there was no need to shift two collectors and an SP in an issue dating back to March 2020, Nimmagadda insisted on taking action against them.
Similarly, there was no need for censuring the two IAS officers in the panchayat raj department at this stage. And the order issued by him transferring Praveen Prakash was the height of his egoistic nature, aimed at provoking the Jagan government.
“Nimmagadda’s focus should have been holding the local body elections in a free and fair atmosphere, rather than on taking action against the officials. Naturally, it has resulted in counter-attack on him from the YSRC leaders,” an analyst said.
