Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu may be heading in the direction of his Tamil Nadu counterpart, at least where sycophancy is concerned.
On Wednesday, Naidu after a small function, stepped into his new office at the temporary secretariat at Velagapudi.
As Naidu took his seat and photographers took their positions behind the table, politicians including MLAs and ministers, along with IAS officers and senior police officials waited in line, to welcome the chief minister to the new office.
Many ministers and legislators including Vinukonda MLA GV Anjaneyulu, Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao along with ministers Ravela Kishore Babu, Prathipati Pulla Rao and Kollu Ravindra, decided to raise the sycophancy level, as they touched Naidu's feet after welcoming him.
Soon, many smaller party workers followed suit, posing for a photograph and prostrating in front of Naidu before leaving.
Watch the video (Starting from the 18-minute mark) here.
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had a few years ago asked her supporters not to prostrate before her in public, after intense criticism. However, in the last two years, ministers and MLAs have prostrated before her many times in public.
"It was a practice that was prevalent when NT Rama Rao was the chief minister. His cabinet ministers, out of their admiration for him as a top movie star, used to touch his feet. Naidu never encouraged such practice. But, of late, even he seems to be enjoying such a display of sycophancy,"a senior political analyst told the Times of India.
Naidu has also been accused of narcissism in the past, and this is not the first time that he has had people fall at his feet.
Justifying a similar incident earlier, minister Ravela Kishore Babu said, "When I bow down to a person who gave me an MLA seat followed by a ministerial post, so that I could bring along my ideals and beliefs to a larger audience, I don't see anything wrong in it,"
"It is not person worship, and neither does it decrease self respect. In fact, it increases my self-confidence to use the opportunity given to me to serve the people. I'm only expressing my respect," he added.