TDP, YSR Congress spar over alleged forced VC resignations

In Andhra Pradesh, the resignation of 17 vice chancellors since the formation of the NDA government has sparked a bitter political feud between the ruling TDP and the opposition YSR Congress. The issue became particularly sensitive as Nara Lokesh, the HRD Minister and key member of the ruling family, found himself at the center of the controversy.

On Tuesday, opposition leader in the Legislative Council, Botsa Satyanarayana, accused the government of forcing the VCs to resign under pressure from the state administration. He claimed the resignations were coerced at the behest of the government. However, Nara Lokesh strongly refuted the allegations, presenting resignation letters from the VCs to the house and challenging the opposition to find any mention of "threat" in them. Lokesh countered that the forced resignation of VCs had been a norm under the previous government, but under the NDA regime, appointments were made transparently.

Satyanarayana further claimed that many VCs resigned following oral instructions from the Chairman of the AP State Council for Higher Education. In response, Lokesh clarified that out of the 17 VCs who resigned, 10 cited personal reasons, two expressed willingness for the appointment of new VCs, and five were advised orally by the chairman.