A ghat being developed for the upcoming Godavari Pushkaralu in Andhra Pradesh in 2027 has kicked up a political controversy, prompting immediate intervention from Telugu Desam Party working president and state minister Nara Lokesh.
The controversy began after a video circulated widely on social media showing a ghat at Munikoodali village in Seethanagaram mandal of East Godavari district named after Devansh, son of Lokesh and grandson of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The development drew criticism from several social media users, who questioned the decision to name a public religious facility after a member of the Chief Minister’s family.
During an inspection of the site, East Godavari district collector Keerthi Chekuri reportedly reviewed plans to develop the facility as a model rural Pushkar ghat.
Officials were instructed to complete the work before Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s scheduled visit on June 24.
Authorities also proposed expanding the existing 49-metre-long ghat to 84 metres and directed that construction be completed before the arrival of floodwaters.
Plans also include a separate five-metre-wide ghat for conducting Godavari Harathi and other ceremonial activities.
Additional infrastructure such as toilets, drinking water facilities, changing rooms, traffic management systems, parking areas, annadanam centres, fire engines and medical camps has also been planned.
After images of the “Devansh Ghat” signboard surfaced online, Lokesh responded strongly.
Describing the issue as “ridiculous,” he ordered officials not to name any ghat after Devansh and thanked those who had brought the matter to his attention.
The minister’s intervention is being viewed as an attempt to avoid allegations of promoting political families through public infrastructure projects.
