The coalition government in Andhra Pradesh is spiraling into chaos, with ministers appearing oblivious to their roles and responsibilities, leaving the administration in a state of disarray. Sources within the state reveal a troubling picture: Ministers lack clarity about their departmental jurisdictions, respond to issues outside their purview, and are increasingly overshadowed by Nara Lokesh, the Education Minister, who seems to have his fingers in every pie. This confusion has not only paralyzed governance but also raised serious questions about whether a functioning government even exists.
At the heart of this mess is a glaring lack of accountability. Ministers are either unwilling or unable to address issues within their own departments, while Lokesh, a figure with no official mandate beyond education, has emerged as the de facto authority across multiple portfolios. Critics argue this overreach is undermining the very structure of the coalition, leaving public grievances unresolved and fostering a sense of disillusionment among citizens.
The Laddoo Fiasco: A Minister Mute, Another misstep
Take the Tirupati laddoo controversy that erupted in September 2024. When allegations surfaced about the quality of ghee used in the iconic prasadam, it fell squarely under the Endowments Department, led by Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. Yet, Reddy remained conspicuously silent as the issue snowballed into a statewide scandal. Instead, Pawan Kalyan, the Minister for Rural Development and Forests, whose portfolio has no connection to religious endowments, stepped in with a dramatic response, announcing purification rituals that only fanned the flames of controversy.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu didn’t help matters. Without awaiting a proper investigation, he publicly claimed adulterated ghee was used, a reckless statement that drew sharp rebuke from the Supreme Court. Even after the court’s reprimand, Reddy continued to play the role of a bystander, leaving the public wondering who was truly in charge of the Endowments Department.
Kashinayana Demolitions: Lokesh Oversteps, Pawan Stays Silent
Another glaring example unfolded in the Nallamala forest region of YSR district, where the Forest Department, under Pawan Kalyan’s leadership, began demolishing structures at the Sri Kashinayana Jyoti Kshetram. For over four decades, this spiritual site has provided religious services and free meals to devotees. The demolitions sparked outrage among devotees and spiritual leaders, who demanded answers from the government.
Logic dictated that Pawan Kalyan, as the Forest Minister, should address the uproar. Yet, it was Nara Lokesh, whose Education Ministry has no stake in this matter, who jumped into the fray, issuing an apology via Twitter for the demolitions. “We regret the actions,” Lokesh wrote, a move that raised eyebrows. Why was the Education Minister speaking for the Forest Department? Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan, a self-proclaimed champion of Sanatana Dharma, remained silent as his own department razed a religious site, prompting Badvel MLA Dr. Sudha and others to question his commitment.
Industry Woes: A Minister Sidelined, Lokesh Takes the Stage
The Industries Department offers yet another case of ministerial dysfunction. Minister TG Bharat has been conspicuously absent from the spotlight, even as his portfolio demands active leadership. During the high-profile Davos tour, aimed at attracting investments, Lokesh dominated the narrative, while Bharat’s role was reduced to a footnote. The trip ended in embarrassment, with Andhra Pradesh failing to secure any significant investments, a failure Lokesh, not Bharat, was left to explain.
This pattern repeats across the government. When the Governor’s address claimed the state had created 4 lakh jobs in the past 10 months, opposition YSRCP members challenged the assertion in the Legislative Council. The response should have come from the Finance or Employment Generation Minister. Instead, Lokesh stepped in, offering a vague defense: “We said we’d provide jobs, not that we’ve already done it.” His attempt to cover for the government only fueled further criticism.
Lokesh’s Power Grab: A Government Without Direction
From endowments to forests to industries, Nara Lokesh’s fingerprints are everywhere, while the ministers tasked with these portfolios fade into the background. Political observers see this as a blatant power grab, with Lokesh consolidating control over the coalition’s machinery at the expense of his colleagues’ authority. “It’s clear Lokesh is calling the shots,” said a senior analyst, speaking anonymously. “The ministers are either too incompetent to resist or too intimidated to assert themselves.”
The fallout is palpable. Public problems pile up unresolved, and the coalition’s credibility erodes with each passing day. Recent incidents, whether the Laddoo controversy, the Kashinayana demolitions, or the Davos debacle, underscore a government adrift, its leaders either unresponsive or meddling where they don’t belong. As one citizen put it, “Is there even a government here, or just a free-for-all?”
For now, Andhra Pradesh remains a state governed not by structure or accountability but by confusion and ambition. And at the center of it all stands Nara Lokesh, pulling strings while the coalition crumbles around him.
