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Saturday, Apr 28, 2007
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YSR puts Ministers on notice

Special Correspondent

Performance to be reviewed after six months

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy put his Ministers on notice on Friday by declaring that their performance would be reviewed after six months and those failing to make the grade would face action.

At a two-hour Cabinet meeting, the first after expansion on Friday, Dr. Reddy virtually laid down a set of guidelines for proper discharge of duties by Ministers. He dropped enough hints that the Congress high command had gathered feedback about the seniors' performance and would keep a close tab on the 17 newcomers also. The Lakshman rekha', as a Minister put it, was clearly drawn with an eye on the Assembly elections in 2009.

Dr. Reddy reportedly remarked that he would be forced to look for others in place of Ministers whose performance was not up to the mark. "Efficiency, honesty, integrity, loyalty and transparency are the key words," Dr. Reddy explained.

Sources said that the Chief Minister advised the new Ministers to work in tandem with Congress MLAs, MPs and other party leaders.

He cautioned his Cabinet colleagues against encouraging groupism, and warned them against playing the game of political upmanship against fellow Ministers from the same district. Newcomers were asked to assume charge immediately and take active part in Praja Patham programme. Advising them to reach out to people and know their grievances, Dr. Reddy said those committing mistakes would not be spared. "Concentrate on development programmes, delivery mechanism, implementation and transparency," Dr. Reddy was said to have remarked.

Ministers were also advised to exercise caution while selecting subordinate staff in their offices, as complaints of alleged corrupt activities of some in a senior Minister's office had been received.

They were warned against leaking information of Cabinet meetings to the media. Expressing anguish at the failure of seniors in effectively countering the Opposition's propaganda against the Government, he wanted the newcomers to respond effectively to criticism. He told them to visit District Congress Committee offices whenever they toured districts. He wanted the Ministers to prepare a status report on the welfare and development works undertaken in each department on the eve of Re-dedication Day celebrations on May 14 when the Congress Government would complete three years in office.

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