With Naidu in the US, officials back home relax

But as employees are wont to do, senior officials and staff at the State Secretariat were only waiting for the boss to be away, so they could have a rollicking time.

Before he left, Naidu, who is known to be a taskmaster, even prepared a programme for ministers and officials till his return. But, at the Secretariat, there is a conspicuous let up in the usual deadline pressure.

“My boss was clamouring for a holiday for long and now he has got it,” a section officer told The Indian Express. “Anyway, the chief minister is away on tour,” is the added refrain.

For instance, in the chief minister’s office, Additional Secretary Randeep Sudan is in the US along with Naidu, while the work islooked after by Secretary S V Prasad and Officer on Special Duty K Lakshminarayana. Deputy Secretary S Balasubramaniam has opted for a couple of days’ leave.

Another Additional Secretary, M Sambasiva Rao, is on a short-term training programme, as is the chief minister’s chief security officer and his team. Naidu is known for his remark, “I will not sleep and won’t let you sleep” — and with the familiar words out of bounds, his absence is definitely a reprieve for the employees.

When Naidu is in town, his day begins with official business and ends with official reviews. On a `normal’ day, he conducts meetings in regard to at least four to five departments, besides the usual `surprise visits’, which warrants the presence of at least five to ten secretary-level officials.

Whenever a secretary would have to meet the chief minister, there would be a scurry of activity in the section concerned and a host of middle and lower-rung staff had to work overtime to prepare the necessary material.

“It is commonfor us to stay on till 9 pm,” said an official aide of a principal secretary.

Now, however, except for `personal’ reasons, no one stays in office after the stipulated 5 pm. There is also a steep fall in the number of visitors to the Secretariat due to the absence of the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues.

Naidu had strictly instructed his ministers to go to their respective districts and concentrate on official as well as party affairs. Though a few ministers are in the State Capital, none of them comes to the Secretariat, so as to avoid making his presence felt.

The chief minister, though, is a tough nut to crack. He is constantly reviewing the situation from the US, through his office, and contacts his secretary at around 10 am every day. He is also in touch with some Telugu Desam party leaders at 9 pm, immediately after getting up.

The chief minister’s office sends him newspaper clippings and other material every night, so he can issue instructions the next morning.

While Naidu uses thetelephone and the Internet to keep tabs on his staff, his staff sends him information through the chief minister’s website and E-Mail.