Normally, a chief minister is the busiest person in any state. It is very difficult for any visitor – whether it is an official or an MLA or even a minister – to get the chief minister’s appointment.
The everyday schedule of any chief minister is very tight and is fixed well in advance. Unless the programmes are cancelled at the last moment or the chief minister wants to meet any VVIP, the schedule is strictly followed.
The chief minister’s schedule used to be displayed at the CMO and even the media persons used to know which VIP or dignitary was coming to meet the chief minister or what meeting he was conducting.
But during the Telangana Rashtra Samithi regime, all that has gone for a toss. Nobody knows, even the media wing in the CMO, what the schedule of KCR is and whom he is going to meet.
Even the officials close to the CM are not aware of his plans, which are known to them at the eleventh hour, unless KCR himself reveals them – whether it is about his Delhi visit or the Yadadri tour. Of course, when he wants to conduct an official meeting or the cabinet meeting, he informs the officials in advance.
For the last few years, KCR has not been giving any appointments to anybody in advance. There are many instances of the MLAs and ministers waiting for hours to see him and going back disappointed after being denied the appointment.
But on some occasions, suddenly KCR gives darshan to the MLAs and ministers, who want to meet him on their birthdays to take his blessings or extend invitations to the functions in their families. Of course, there will be a beeline of visitors to Pragati Bhavan on his birthday.
Sources said having been aware of KCR’s inaccessibility, his party leaders or even MLAs have stopped seeking his appointments.
“His programme chart is generally empty, unless KCR wants to meet somebody. No MLA or minister comes to him with a representation about his or her personal issues or official programmes. Nobody is asking for his appointment now,” a source close to the CMO said.
Most of them are now making a beeline to KCR’s son K T Rama Rao, TRS working president and state minister. By virtue of being the CM’s son, he is calling shots and is taking decisions instantly. His word has now become final in the government.
As a result, nobody knows what KCR is doing right now all through the day, unlike the chief ministers of other states, who have busy scheduled all through the day. Occasionally, he calls for review meetings and rarely, cabinet meetings.
That’s it. Perhaps, he is the only chief minister in the country, who is relatively free all through the day!
