The Hindu : Front Page : Dana Kishore replaces Praveen Prakash

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Dana Kishore replaces Praveen Prakash

Collector’s replacement: government takes serious view of EC directive

Harsh decision against Mr. Prakash for no fault of his, say sources
Decision attributed to “ego problems” of some Election Commission officials

HYDERABAD: The Election Commission has chosen Kurnool district Collector M. Dana Kishore to replace Praveen Prakash as Ranga Reddy district Collector.

The Commission picked Mr. Kishore from the panel of three names submitted by the State government on its directions after it ordered the immediate transfer of Mr. Prakash. Chittoor Collector M. Ravichandra and his Medak counterpart Piyush Kumar were the other IAS officers suggested by the government.

Mr. Prakash has been posted as Managing Director, A.P. Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

It is understood that the EC, in its communication, questioned the government how it could entrust election related responsibilities to Mr. Prakash against whom it had recommended disciplinary action when he was Visakhapatnam Collector.

Sources said the government has not taken kindly to what it perceived as the “harsh decision” against Mr. Prakash “for no fault of his”.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was quoted by sources close to him as being “totally upset” over the ‘unilateral decision’ and was understood to have attributed the incident to “ego problems” of some officials in the EC.

However, senior officials reportedly advised Dr. Reddy to tread cautiously and avoid picking up a confrontation against the Commission.

Altercation

Mr. Prakash had an altercation with a deputy Chief Election Commissioner during the Visakhapatnam-I byelection in 2006. “Though an inquiry was ordered at the EC’s instance, nothing could be proved against him. Officials in the Commission are continuing to target him,” a senior official in the CMO said.

He asserted that the actions of the Commission in seeking transfer of an official, enquiries against whom had not proven anything, would not go unchallenged.

“We are considering various options, including legal recourse to question the Commission’s directive,” he told The Hindu.

It was, however, decided to lie low for the time being as “any friction with the EC at this juncture when the byelections are round the corner will not augur well,” officials said.

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