Jana Sena Party state general secretary and noted environmentalist Bolisetty Satyanarayana has resigned from his party posts, in the wake of the criticism from various social groups for his earlier comments against Amaravati capital city in terms of environmental damage.
Satyanarayana took the decision after a meeting with party president and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan a few days ago. Apparently, Pawan Kalyan asked him to step down from the posts.
In a letter to Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday, Satyanarayana said he had taken the decision after a careful deliberation regarding his current roles as Jana Sena general secretary (Environment) and his ongoing legal commitments to environmental advocacy.
He said he was a petitioner in the state high court addressing critical issues of pollution.
“While this case was initiated during the previous regime, the transition to the current NDA government of which our Jana Sena Party is a vital alliance partner has created a unique legal and ethical landscape,” he said.
Since the state government and the environment ministry (headed by Pawan Kalyan) are prime respondents in this case, he said he believed his continued service in a high-ranking party position while litigating against the state may create a conflict of interest, compromise the perceived impartiality of the judicial proceedings.
“It may potentially cause unnecessary political embarrassment to the alliance or the environment ministry. This also may shift focus away from the environmental protection goals,” he said.
In the interest of maintaining the highest standards of political ethics and ensuring that the "cause of the environment" remains untainted by political complexity, Satyanarayana siad he was stepping down from his position as party general secretary and all other party-affiliated roles immediately.
He said his decision to stay away from the party will hold good till the petition reaches its final judicial resolution.
“My commitment to the ideologies of Jana Sena remains steadfast, but my duty as a petitioner and the National Convenor of Jal Biradari requires this temporary distance to ensure justice is served without prejudice,” he said.
