An official wireless communication issued ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to inaugurate Bhogapuram International Airport has created confusion within the Andhra Pradesh administration after it referred to a former Telugu Desam Party MLA overseeing the Chief Minister’s programmes as a “minister”.
Pendurthi Venkatesh, who previously represented the Rajanagaram constituency in the erstwhile East Godavari district, was appointed coordinator for the Chief Minister’s programmes and accorded Cabinet rank.
While Cabinet rank provides protocol status and certain administrative privileges, it does not make the holder a member of the Council of Ministers.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s August 1 visit to Bhogapuram, Venkatesh travelled to Visakhapatnam to coordinate arrangements for the Chief Minister’s participation in the event.
However, a wireless message reportedly sent by his office to officials in Vijayawada, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts described him as the “Minister for Chief Minister’s Programmes”.
The communication, issued in the name of his Officer on Special Duty, Shayaji Rao, quickly drew the attention of officials and prompted questions about whether a new minister had been appointed.
Senior officials attributed the incident to an administrative error, suggesting that some government staff had confused Cabinet rank with a ministerial position.
The episode has also renewed criticism of the functioning of ministerial offices, with officials alleging that procedural lapses by support staff are increasingly leading to avoidable controversies.
Although the communication is unlikely to have any legal implications, it has highlighted the importance of accuracy in official government correspondence, particularly during high-profile events involving the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
