Recently, the N Chandrababu Naidu government requested the Centre to depute Mr. Mylavarapu Krishna Teja (2015-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer), presently posted as the District Collector of the Thrissur district, so that he could be posted as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Officer Teja had recently visited Andhra Pradesh and met CM Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan who wins Pithapuram seat in Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections.
Jana Sena chief Mr Kalyan has previously praised Kerala’s Panchayat Raj system and rural development efforts on multiple occasions.
CM Naidu has reportedly approved this decision and has also written a letter to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) requesting the deputation of the officer to Andhra Pradesh, citing it as a special case.
If this happens, it would signify a departure from the usual protocol, where a minister’s OSD typically holds the rank of RDO. In this case, the Deputy Chief Minister is anticipated to select an IAS officer as his OSD.
Krishna Teja, who hails from Chilakaluripet in Palnadu district and belongs to the Arya Vysya community, comes from a family known for business and social service. Before entering the civil services, Krishna Teja, an engineering graduate, gained experience in various software companies. He is married to Raga Deepa, a Chartered Accountant from Vijayawada, and they are blessed with two children.
Teja played a key role as sub-collector of Alleppey during the 2018 Kerala floods when he planned ‘Operation Kuttanadu’ to evacuate about 2.5 lakh people in 48 hours. He later mobilized funds for rehabilitation of flood victims through ‘I am for Alleppey’ campaign.