On Tuesday, Minister Ajay Puvvada had a busy day. He participated in a slew of meetings, get-togethers in Khammam. He even inaugurated a shopping mall where latest heartthrob Kriti Shetti of Uppena fame was the special guest. But, he missed one very important programme. The programme was the swearing in of the newly appointed chairperson of the Telangana state road transport corporation Bajireddy Govardhan.

On Tuesday, Bajireddy was sworn in in Hyderabad, while his departmental minister Ajay Puvvada was busy in Khammam. His absence at Bajireddy’s swearing-in is the hot topic of discussion in the political circles now. This gave rise to speculations that Ajay did not like the new appointment and hence avoided the swearing-in.

For the last two years, there was no RTC chairperson. So Puvvada Ajay had a monopoly over the RTC. He exercised his authority and had his way. With the appointment of Bajireddy Govardhan, his powers are severely restricted. Moreover, Bajireddy is no pushover. He is a several times MLA and has served under various governments. Sources say it is because of this that Ajay skipped the swearing-in.

Ajay is considered close to KTR and is believed to be part of KTR’s inner circle. But, sources say, the appointment of Bajajireddy was done by KCR himself. So, there was nothing that Ajay could do, sources say.