Narasimhan, a former IPS officer of Andhra cadre, left very little doubt in the minds of senior police officers as to how he wanted the Telangana agitation to be handled. But the officers did have a doubt about who they should report to henceforth because Narasimhan showed them who the boss was. From seeking inputs on Maoist movement on the Chhattisgarh border to deployment of additional forces to effectively control Telangana agitation to passing instructions to Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy to meeting political party leaders and to appealing for restraint, the new Governor has slowly but firmly taken control in the state. “The impression is that he has been tasked with restoring normalcy, reining in pro-Telangana and pro-Andhra rebellions in the Congress and making sure that police do not just watch the agitations go out of hand. He has already taken firm control over the Police Department. Even Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy watched in astonishment as to how quickly Narasimhan wrested control,” said an officer present at the meeting.

Narasimhan started off with a high-level meeting with police officers, DGP and Home Minister, followed three days later with a meeting with DGP and Home Minister. He held meetings with Chiranjeevi of Praja Rajyam Party, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, TRS’s K Chandrasekhara Rao and others and impressed upon them that their irresponsible statements and the actions of their MLAs and MPs were vitiating the atmosphere in the state and there was a need to show restraint.

“After meeting the new Governor, we have clear instructions to deal firmly and effectively with pro-Telangana or pro-united Andhra agitations. Instructions were clear that Hyderabad should not be allowed to be disturbed by agitations and rallies,” an official said.In fact, after a meeting with the Governor, the DGP decided not to permit the students’ ‘maha garjana’ rally that was supposed to take place on January 3. He also warned agitators that anyone forcibly closing down shops and offices would be dealt with severely. Officials maintain Narasimhan is in no way trying to influence or steer the agitation or Telangana movement but is very clear that it should not bring Hyderabad or Andhra to a halt and is handling things accordingly.