In Adani indictment shadow, Jagan suffers another jolt—TDP’s Nara Lokesh says there is no Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh

“Currently, Lokayukta takes into consideration LoP as one of its five members, but is silent about the absence of an LoP. An amendment has been passed which states that in the absence of LoP, the other four members can meet and decide,” he told The Indian Express.

According to the indictment, Adani “personally met with Foreign Official 1 in Andhra Pradesh to advance the execution of PSA (power supply agreements) between SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) and AP’s state electricity distribution companies, including on or about August 7, 2021, on or about September 12, 2021 and on or about November 20, 2021”. The “Foreign Official 1”, according to the indictment, “had served as a high-ranking government official of Andhra Pradesh from May 2019 to June 2024”.

While the indictment does not name Foreign Officer 1, a filing by the Security Exchanges Commission filing does say that in August 2021, Adani “met personally with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh…” Between May 2019 and June 2024, Jagan Mohan Reddy was the chief minister.

After introducing a Bill to amend the Lokayukta Act in the Legislative Council, Naidu said a new atmosphere has emerged in the state after the 2024 elections. “Earlier, the Chief Minister was the Chairman of the Lokayukta, and the Speaker of the Assembly, the Home Minister or any other Cabinet Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chairman of the Legislative Council were members. Now, since there is no Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, the Lokayukta committee will consist of four other members. The present amendment is being introduced with regard to the appointment of the Chairman,” Naidu said while introducing the Bill on the composition of the Lokayukta Members Selection Committee.

Stating that in general, either a retired Chief Justice of the High Court or a retired judge from the High Court heads the Lokayukta as chairman while the Upalokayukta is headed by a retired district judge, the IT Minister told the Upper House that the amendment is being brought to conduct Lokayukta proceedings without an LoP.

Making it clear that all the members of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council are partners in a democracy, Naidu said the people decided who should sit where. “We were sitting in the Opposition earlier and now assumed power after the people’s verdict. We have a sacred responsibility and we will certainly take the spirit of Lokayukta forward,” Naidu said.