It’s a classical case of tit-for-tat. Governor of Andhra Pradesh Biswabhushan Harichandan has not given an appointment for State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar. Ramesh Kumar, who is retiring on Wedesday, sought an appointment with the Governor. But, the Raj Bhavan did not give him an appointment.
Ramesh Kumar waited for the Governor’s appointment the whole day on Tuesday. But, there was no intimation from the Raj Bhavan. So, Nimmagadda could not get to meet Biswabhushan Harichandan. Sources said that the Governor was miffed at Nimmagadda’s intransigence. On March 19, the Governor’s office has summoned the SEC, but the latter informed the Raj Bhavan that he was unavailable as he was in Hyderabad. This has upset the governor and he, in turn, has refused to give an appointment to Ramesh Kumar on the eve of the latter’s superannuation.
Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar’s tenure as election commissioner has been a controversial one and he had frequent run-ins with the State Government. The State Government viewed him as a pro-TDP man and his meeting with some key TDP leaders, who are currently in the BJP, at a hotel in Hyderabad too has become controversial.
