NETA\'S NATTER | A DIVINE MATCH

It is not unusual for children of colleagues to unite in wedlock. When the workmates happen to serve the holy, it could well be called a divine match. One such match is the coming together of two families working for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). TTD top officials A.V. Dharma Reddy and J. Sekhar Reddy are soon to become in-laws if the buzz doing the rounds in the TTD is anything to go by. Some say it was a match waiting to happen, others say it was the blessings of Lord Venkateswara that led to the circumstances resulting in the decision of the families to unite. The engagement of Dharma Reddy’s son and Shekar Reddy’s daughter is scheduled for June 9, and a date for the wedding is to be planned after that. Dharma Reddy, who earlier served as special officer and additional executive officer of the TTD, is now the TTD Executive Officer (full additional charge), while the TN-based industrialist and sand baron Sekhar Reddy who had earlier served as board member and special invitee of previous TTD trust boards, is president of the TTD’s local advisory committee in Chennai and is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming nuptials.

KTR THE UNSUNG HERO

IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, the man credited with turning Telangana state into a hot destination for industrial and IT investments, revealed that despite all his hard work, and results, the portfolio he holds as a minister among several other responsibilities, that of municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD), is a thankless one. The candid observation was made at a workshop on Pattana Pragathi for mayors, chairpersons and staff of urban local bodies on Friday. As industries and IT minister, he could quickly showcase investments secured and, in the process, even earn some praise. But when it came to the low-level work of urban cleanliness, it went unrecognised. As the municipal minister, even if he ensured daily cleaning of streets people have something or the other to complain about.

MINISTERS SHY TO TAKE CREDIT

Many ministers in Telangana state appear to have, over time, set themselves up for some well-directed potshots from the Opposition as being toothless and powerless. The evidence for this is presented every day in the various press and media releases that pepper the in-boxes of journalists. Even when it comes to discharging simple and regular day-to-day duties, the releases sent out begin with “on the directions of the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao”. This has led to several sniggering remarks and giggles, sometimes among ruling party politicians, about how they have to first give all credit to the Chief Minister, no matter how small the event or action they attend or perform. Fear is the key, as Alistair MacLean once titled one of his many racy novels. After being in power for eight years, there are understandable jitters among those holding positions that the best possible way to keep their jobs is to give all the credit for everything they do to their top boss. Everyone wonders why this is so, since KCR has never asked his subordinates to toe this line. A clear case of hero-worshipping perhaps, in the days leading to the elections?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE ADOPTED ONE — PAWAN KALYAN

Way back in the early ’70s, a movie starring ANR did well in Andhra Pradesh. Datta Putrudu was about how an adopted son repays his debt to the family that took him in by making the bad guys bite the dust in the end. Cut to the 2020s and the ’70s classic is trending again in AP, but in a whole different context. It all began when AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy called Jana Sena party founder K. Pawan Kalyan, TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “datta putrudu”, hitting hard at the image the film star-turned-politician has been trying to cultivate as the leader of an independent party. Jagan’s intention was clear — the TD and the Jana Sena are one. But not one to take a hit lying down, Pawan Kalyan lost no time in hitting back at Jagan and digging up his CBI cases. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how this new strategy adopted by Jagan, and followed by Pawan Kalyan, will work for them politically. But from the look of things on the outside it’s Jagan who is enjoying the limelight while Pawan Kalyan is relegated to the pages dedicated to failed history.

FAMILY CAR HIJACKED TO IMPRESS VIPs

A case of filmy-style commandeering of a vehicle in Ongole by transport department officials in AP created quite the stir recently when officials hijacked a car they needed urgently for use during a visit by the Chief Minister. This incident kicked up a lot of dust in the government thanks to the high-handed behaviour of transport officials involved in the incident. The family bound for Tirupati were left stranded after their car was whisked away, which led to the transport department mustering enough courage to ask the state government to pay up the dues it owes to the department. The car apparently was hijacked as they could not arrange for one earlier because of pending bills — all of Rs 17.5 crore — they had to pay transporters whose vehicles were hired previously for VIP visits. It is yet to be seen if the issue they raised leads to some much-needed reform or to an even more bumpy ride for them in the days to come.