Officials attend meet by YSRC leader, get memos

KADAPA: Nearly 20 mandal officers have landed themselves in deep trouble for violating protocol and attending a review meeting conducted by a YSR Congress party leader in its party office at Pulivendula on February 21. District collector V Anil Kumar issued memos to officials seeking explanations for their callousness and irresponsible behaviour.According to sources, Kadapa MP, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's relative and YSR Congress party youth leader, Y S Avinash Reddy informed the mandal level officials that Pulivendula MLA Y S Vijayamma had wanted to review various developmental activities in her constituency and asked the officials to attend a review meeting at YSRCP office in Pulivendula. The officials did not dare complain despite the meeting being held in an office belonging to a political party, rather than the legislator's camp office or any other government office.But when the officials arrived for the meeting, they found that Vijayamma was not there for the review meeting and Avinash Reddy had replaced her at the meeting. Surprisingly, all officials obliged and participated in the review meeting without raising any objection.The incident was reported in the media and complaints were lodged with higher officials by different political parties and citizens. Responding to the complaints, district collector V Anil Kumar on Monday issued memos to the officials concerned stating that protocol does not allow Avinash Reddy to chair the meeting and officials had indeed committed a mistake by attending a review meeting by him. Six mandal parishad development officers (MPDOs) along with officials from panchayat raj, rural water supply and others who attended the meeting were asked to give an explanation in this regard, in three days time.Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had also attended the District Review Committee meet in 2008 despite not being an elected representative. Officials did not object to his presence as he was the son of then chief minister YSR.