Hyderabad:
Dharmana Prasad Rao, minister for roads and buildings minister in Andhra Pradesh, is facing testing times over an exam centre. It is alleged that he misused his authority and took over a government degree college in Srikakulam for his son's wedding reception. The change in venue forced local candidates to travel long distances to sit for an exam for the post of village administrative official.
Mr Rao, however, rubbishes all allegations, saying, "What are these wild allegations? My son's wedding reception dates were fixed before the exam dates. No exam centre was cancelled."
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has also jumped to his minister's defence. Amid demands of Mr Rao's resignation, Mr Reddy says his cabinet colleague has done no wrong and it is much ado about nothing.
"I condemn this attempt to politicise a small issue and create controversy when a colleague is having a happy occasion in his family," Mr Reddy said.
However, civil society activists and the opposition parties have slammed Mr Rao over the alleged abuse of power. They allege this kind of misuse of authority has become very common and the chief minister should ask the minister to quit over the embarrassment.
One of the exam candidates met with an accident on her way to the exam centre, which led to the death of her father, who was accompanying her. Former chief minister and TDP leader
Chandrababu Naidu has demanded 10 lakh to family of the man, who died and government job to the girl.
Mr Naidu also raised the issue in the state assembly that led to a spat.
"The minister should not have put his personal interest over public interest," said Mr Naidu.
"Who has given you the authority to cancel the centre? Is this your ancestral property?" said Mr Narayana from the CPI.