Devaansh Ghat row: Lokesh says no public assets in son’s name

Vijayawada: A controversy surrounding the naming of a Pushkar ghat in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district has triggered a political debate, with HRD & IT minister Nara Lokesh stepping in to clarify that he does not support naming public facilities after his son, Nara Devaansh.

The issue revolves around the ghat located at Muni Koodali in the Rajanagaram assembly constituency. In recent days, reports and social media posts claimed that the ghat was newly named “Devaansh Ghat,” allegedly with the backing of local political leaders and activists. The reports quickly gained traction, prompting reactions from various quarters.

However, local MLA Battula Balaramakrishna dismissed the claims, stating that the name had existed at the site for several years and was not a recent development. He alleged that certain social media accounts had deliberately misrepresented the issue, creating “unnecessary controversy” around a project aimed at developing an important religious location.

According to the MLA, Muni Koodali holds significant importance in Hindu mythology and is regarded as a spiritually important site in the region. He said deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan recently directed officials to transform the location into a model ghat and sanctioned ₹1 crore for its development, considering its cultural and religious value.

As the debate intensified online, Nara Lokesh responded by making his position clear. He said he already issued instructions that no ghats, public structures, or govt facilities should be named after his son. Thanking those who brought the matter to his attention, Lokesh distanced himself from the naming issue and reiterated that he was not in favour of such practices.