Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu continues to give due importance to his deputy and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, in key appointments and important policy decisions.
According to TDP sources, Naidu generally is not saying “no” to any request from Pawan Kalyan with regard to appointments to any posts, unless there is an intense competition from the TDP ranks for the same posts. Wherever it is possible, Naidu is obliging Pawan’s recommendations and requests.
The latest instance is the appointment of additional advocate general of the state government, a key post which was held till recently by Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy, an out and out hardcore loyalist to YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The chief minister has already appointed his favourite advocate Dammalapati Srinivas as the advocate general.
He had been the legal counsel for the TDP for several years and his choice was quite obvious, as he had held the post during the previous TDP regime.
Now, Pawan Kalyan has asked Naidu to give the additional advocate general post to Jana Sena Party’s legal counsel Ivana Sambasiva Rao.
The chief minister did not say no to the request and readily agreed for the appointment. Accordingly, orders were issued on Tuesday night.
Sambasiva Pratap, a senior high court advocate with over 40 years of experience, has been legal services to the Jana Sena Party since its inception and has served as the chairman of the party's legal cell since the 2019 general elections.
Hailing from Tillapudi village in the West Godavari district, Pratap served as the Municipal Standing Council for the Municipalities of Andhra Region from 1996 to 2002 and as the Government Advocate (GP) in the Joint High Court from 2016 to 2019.
He has also represented numerous prominent banks, insurance companies, and public sector organizations as their Standing Council.
His appointment as the Additional Advocate General has brought cheers from the Jana Sena Party workers.
