Chennai: The Tamil Nadu authorities has appointed Venkata Narayana Okay, founding father of KVN Productions and producer of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s movie ‘Jana Nayagan’, because the state’s particular consultant in New Delhi. The transfer has sparked a powerful political backlash, with critics citing Venkata Narayana’s lack of administrative or political expertise and his Karnataka background.
Venkata Narayana Okay. is a Bangalore-based businessman and movie producer, and the founder and chairman of KVN Group, a diversified conglomerate with pursuits in actual property and leisure. Beforehand, he was the CEO of Status Group, a number one actual property developer, the place he performed a key function in increasing its footprint throughout India.
In 2020, he based KVN Productions, a movie manufacturing and distribution firm that shortly grew right into a pan-India banner, backing high-profile initiatives throughout a number of languages, together with movies starring stars resembling Yash. He holds skilled {qualifications} as a Chartered Accountant, Value Accountant and Firm Secretary and is a regulation graduate.
Venkat Narayana started his shut skilled affiliation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay by way of KVN Productions, which produced Vijay’s political motion thriller ‘Jana Nayagan’, directed by H. Vinoth. The movie was touted as Vijay’s final work earlier than getting into politics in earnest with Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Venkat turned a part of Vijay’s inside circle and was seen accompanying him and the TVK chief on official visits.
On June 23, 2026, the Authorities of Tamil Nadu appointed him because the State’s Particular Consultant in New Delhi for a interval of 1 yr. It’s going to take impact from the day he takes workplace. This function consists of performing as a liaison between the state and the middle on administrative and coverage points.
The appointment is seen because the CM’s private selection and has sparked an enormous backlash over his lack of political and administrative expertise and Karnataka background, particularly amid the continued Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The appointment has drawn criticism from opposition events, who argue that the delicate function of defending Tamil Nadu’s pursuits on the Middle shouldn’t be entrusted to somebody with out the related {qualifications} or from a neighboring nation with which the state has long-standing water disputes.
DMK chief Kanimozhi strongly criticized the transfer and questioned whether or not there was not a single individual with ample {qualifications} in Tamil Nadu.
“Within the authorities’s place of defending the rights of Tamil Nadu in Delhi, the Union authorities has appointed an individual from Karnataka to a job equal to that of a minister. Does the Union authorities not have a single individual from Tamil Nadu who’s certified to take up the duty? “Will the presently elected individual act as a consultant of Tamil Nadu or Karnataka in issues associated to the rights of Tamil Nadu, together with the Mekedatu dam building concern?” she requested.
The federal government has defended Venkata Narayana’s appointment as a strategic resolution to leverage his company community for higher coordination and funding alternatives. TVK Minister KA Sengotaiyan mentioned the transfer was a authorities coverage resolution. “The appointment of Mr. Venkat Narayana because the Particular Consultant for Delhi is a coverage resolution of the federal government. It’s the authorities’s place to defend the rights of Tamil Nadu in Delhi. There may be nothing flawed with Mr. Venkat Narayana being appointed because the Particular Consultant for Delhi,” he informed media on Saturday.
DMK MP P. Wilson additionally alleged that the Prime Minister violated the oath of secrecy by permitting Andhra Pradesh shut aides to attend a high-level authorities assembly. He questioned the presence of John Arokkiasami and Vishnu Reddy in cupboard conferences, evaluation conferences and different high-level authorities deliberations held by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
“Thiru John Arokkisamy and Thiru Vishnu Reddy from Andhra Pradesh are shut aides and pals of Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, the CM of Tamil Nadu. It’s not clear whether or not they’re employed, however they’re assigned rooms within the secretariat close to the prime minister’s workplace.If they don’t seem to be civil servants, in what capability are they attending secret conferences the place categorized paperwork are circulated?” Wilson wrote about X.
He additional argued that the involvement of those people raised severe issues relating to compliance with constitutional norms, enterprise guidelines and the CM’s oath of confidentiality. “The CM ought to reveal the official nominations of those two folks and let the folks know below what authority they attend cupboard conferences and concern directions to officers,” he questioned.
DMDK’s Premalatha additionally criticized the appointment of Venkata Narayana. She questioned whether or not such a consultant may actually shield the pursuits of Tamil Nadu over these of the house nation. Mr. Premaratha criticized the choice, arguing that the appointment was detrimental to the rights of Tamil Nadu and citing Dravidian ideology and Tamil identification.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
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