Once formidable, Botcha Satyanarayana is now a shadow of his former self

Vizianagaram: Botcha Satyanarayana, who ruled the roost not only in Vizianagaram district but also in the entire north Andhra during the previous 10-year rule of Congress between 2004 to 2014, is now a pale shadow of his former image of influence and power.

Once formidable Botcha Satyanarayana is not much effective today. Known for his inimitable eloquence and his clout in his caste, he could hold the entire district under his grip and was also able to extend his influence to Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.

His close relative and his man Friday Chinna Srinu used to be considered his man in the field and could influence every department even under the TDP regime. But now he is much mellowed and not in a position to manage the district administration despite Botcha being a the minister.

Satyanarayana used to decide the political fate of many mandal leaders during those days. He would promote his followers, loyalists as MPPs, MLAs, ZPTCs, ZP chairman, members of cooperative societies and even cooperative central bank.

The situation has now changed with his followers too in a pessimistic mood over his capacity to promote them. The unlimited freedom he enjoyed during his heyday under Congress rule is now thing of the past since party president and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy is said to be watching every move of the ministers.

In the past, Botsa and Chinna Srinu were able to get their loyal officials appointed as officials in key posts in the district, like project directors of DRDA, DWMA, RDO, ITDA, which is not the case now. According to sources, senior officials too are not much obliging towards the minister these days.

Besides him, his own brother Appla Narasaiah (Gajapatinagaram) and a close relative B Appala Naidu (Nellimarla) are ruling party legislators in the district. A former mandal president and close associate of Botcha family, from Gajapatinagaram said the followers of Satyanarayana have resigned to the fact that their leader is not as powerful as he used to be.

"It seems that no minister has abnormal freedom in this government. The ministers are only for administrative supervision but not for doing political and administrative favours to their loyalists. Let's see how he is going to help us. We are expecting something more from him," he sighed.