Within days of the Jagan Reddy government moving an ordinance to protect its MP V VijayAsai Reddy from the ‘office of profit’ rulebook — after his appointment as special representative of the state — the controversy has reached Rashtrapati Bhavan and stands referred to the Election Commission. 

The issue, which was earlier pending with the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Office of Profit, will now be deliberated over by the EC following the presidential reference, ET has gathered. Rajya Sabha MP V Reddy is considered a confidant of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Reddy. Reddy said he had himself requested President Kovind’s intervention on the matter. 
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“I did write to President Kovind on the matter seeking a Presidential reference to the EC to determine whether or not taking charge as a special representative of the statein an honorary position amounts to an office of profit or not. I have been informed by Rashtrapati Bhavan that a presidential reference has been made to the ECI on the same and their response is awaited,” Reddy confirmed to ET. 

Reddy said that he has not taken charge as the SR even though the appointment was backed with an ordinance in July.