The conspicuous absence of union minister M Venkaiah Naidu at the Indian Science Congress, now in session at Tirupati, during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising eye-brows of many. Naidu normally didn’t miss any opportunity to reflect his `close association’ with the Prime Minister, particularly when the later visits his home state Andhra Pradesh.

Even he didn’t misses himself whenever any union minister visits the state and inevitably accompanies them so that to show the public that without him no union minister prefers to visit the state. Recently, normally he is also not even missing to share dais with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in state government’s official functions.

Even Science Congress organisers invited him for the inaugural function. Last week also, absence at the spill over works launching of Polavaram project catches attention of many critics. Almost every week-end he is seen in some or other place in the state, addressing press conferences.

His absence is said to be mostly due to complaint given by local BJP leaders to the party high-command protesting against Venkaiah Naidu’s proximity with Chandrababu Naidu, though the later has been ignoring local BJP leaders in all respects.

Chandrababu Naidu has invited three BJP’s union ministers to Polavaram, but didn’t invited party’s state president Dr K Hari Babu, who is Visakhapatnam MP. When BJP’s state incharge Siddarth Nath Singh was in Kakinada, just two days before Polavaram’s event, state party leaders complained against Chief Minister’s discriminate attitude towards the party leaders.

After Sidarth Nath Singh’s report only, the party high-command said to be cautioned against union minister’s `close association’ with Chandrababu Naidu. Sensing party high-command’s ire, Venkaiah Naidu seems to be avoiding to be seen with AP Chief Minister.