Andhra Pradesh elections: At least 20 ex- bureaucrats and police officials in fray

HYDERABAD: At least 20 All India Services and Group-1 officers, who have either retired or taken a VRS, are contesting from various political parties in Andhra Pradesh for the assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies. Apart from former CBI joint director, VV Lakshminarayana, other IPS officials like Iqbal are also in the fray.Former IAS officer Thota Chandrashekar is contesting from Guntur East assembly for Jana Sena. Senior IRS officer, Metta Rama Rao, of 1991 batch took VRS, and is contesting on Jana Sena ticket as MP candidate from Srikakulam. Anakapally MP candidate for Jana Sena is Parthasarathy, an ex-IRS officers, IRTS officer and former minister Ravela Kishore Babu is contesting from Prattipadu assembly constituency, and Vemuru MLA candidate Bharat Bhushan is an ex-IRS and contesting on Jana Sena ticket.TDP’s Bapatla MP candidate, Malyadri, is an IRS officer, and TDP MLA candidate Ramanjaneyulu from Kodumur is an IAS officer.YSRC has most babus from the police department. Former inspector general of police K Iqbal Ahmed Khan is contesting against actor and MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna from Hindupur assembly constituency. Former deputy inspector general, Chandragiri Yeshuratnam is contesting from Guntur West constituency. Arthur, who is contesting from Nandikotkur assembly constituency, was also a police officer, and he worked as a chief marshal in AP Legislative Assembly.Political analyst and former MLC, professor K Nageshwar told TOI, “Bureaucrats are realising the power of politicians more than anyone else. Political interference in the bureau is increasing. Collectors have turned executives of the ruling party with no autonomy, and unlike earlier, there is no innovation. Babus are jumping into politics realising the power.”