Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath and Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma shared cordial relations during their Indian Administrative Service careers in Andhra Pradesh.

Therefore, official circles here were surprised at reports that they had a difference of opinion over granting permission for a rally of the BJP’s prime ministerial nominee, Narendra Modi, in Varanasi.

Mr. Sampath of the 1973 IAS batch and Mr. Brahma of the 1975 batch served as district collectors and later handled important posts in the State. Senior officials say Mr. Sampath made a pioneering contribution in reforming the power sector and was respected by his juniors, including Mr. Brahma. The two handled the important departments of Power and Civil Supplies during N. Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister.

They had eventful stints in the State and Central power sectors.

They made their mark in the areas of infrastructure and rural development in the State and were nominated to the Election Commission after serving as Secretaries in the Union Power Ministry.

At the State level, Mr. Brahma managed the power sector during his stint as member-secretary of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board, which was subsequently unbundled into different corporations during Mr. Sampath’s stint as Principal Secretary, Energy, in the State.

Mr. Sampath is credited with initiating reforms in the Energy Department, opening it up for private investments.