Arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari is in the eye of a storm over alleged property deals with Robert Vadra. Now, it has emerged that Bhandari had close links to Appa Rao, Officer on Special Duty to Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
Appa Rao allegedly made 355 calls to Bhandari. Ashok Gajapathi Raju claims that he is entirely innocent of any dealings with Bhandari or Appa Rao and the Minister's claims can be believed for he might not have done anything for the people, but he has had no allegations of corruption in his political career so far. But how is this scandal going to affect Chandrababu Naidu?
Naidu's latest craze for airports is because he can get all necessary approvals with Ashok at the helm, thereby facilitating his real-estate activities. But how will the BJP view the whole episode?
Recently, Eknath Khadse, the revenue minister of Maharashtra was forced to resign because of his involvement in a land scam and possible links to Dawood.
Coming on the eve of the BJP's boast that they had given a corrupt-free government for two years, the saffron Party would not entertain any such Ministers. Just to be on the safe side, the BJP might shift Ashok to another Ministry in which case, Naidu's land-grabbing activities in the name of airport expansion and construction, would receive a serious setback. But if this really happens, then the people of AP will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
