"We Have Lost Much Time"

I believe that any 40 to 50-year-old organisation should seriously introspect about its mission and activities. This is equally true for government. Government today is at the threshold of major changes that will impact virtually all aspects of governance. Information technology, for example, is making organisations adopt flat organisational structures. There are trends all over the world for downsizing government. There is a need to induct more professionalism and greater accountability and transparency in the processes of governance. It is for this reason that political leaders in government will necessarily have to conduct themselves in a manner which is more like chief executives of large and complex corporates. Political leadership will have to be more business-like.

What is your vision for Andhra?

I want to make Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country in 10 years time in terms of the standard of living of its people. I wish to achieve this by encouraging private investment—both domestic and international—which will be the prime engine of growth and by adoption of knowledge in all aspects of development and governance. I want Andhra Pradesh to become a role model for others.

Who are your own role models?

I do not have any role models in the strict sense of the term. I have, of course, been influenced by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and also by the sense of discipline displayed by my late father-in-law. I have been impressed with the achievements of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore and of Mahathir Mohammad in Malaysia. I am impressed by the remarkable change in the law and order situation which the mayor of New York City, Mr Guliani, has achieved. I am very impressed by Mr Ambani.

What about resistance to your reforms? How will you tackle that?

The only way to successfully carry out reforms is to take the people into confidence. I have consciously tried to ensure that there is adequate debate before taking any major decision.

What has gone wrong in our 50 years of Independence?

We have lost much time in petty politicking and meaningless squabbles without addressing issues of substance. That is why I have deliberately chosen to pursue an agenda of development and have been consciously avoiding political controversies. I believe that politics should be kept only for elections and the rest of the time we should all focus on development. I am reminded of (management guru) C.K. Prahalad saying that India is not limited by natural resources but by imagination.

Don't you think Indian politicians have failed the country miserably?

I feel that Indian politicians are capable of much better than what they have achieved so far. The problem is: we never change. Our constant focus should be on development. All other matters should be relegated to the periphery. I have banned garlands, stopped attending felicitations, dinners. They are a waste of time when there's so much work to do.

Do you fear your reforms getting sabotaged from within by vested interests?

There may be attempts at sabotage. But this is not likely to succeed given the groundswell of support that they have generated among the people. If people are convinced that reforms are inevitable and necessary, no one can stop reforms.