‘RaRe Model’ Is The New Buzzword

Sreenivasa Raju’s extravagance overshadows his brilliance

K.S. Sreenivasa Raju, the retired IAS officer-turned-adviser-turned-CMO principal secretary, is once again at the centre of quiet bureaucratic murmurs — and not for policy brilliance. His recent habit of ditching Telangana Bhavan for plush star hotels during official Delhi visits has raised eyebrows over unnecessary expenditure from the state exchequer. While bureaucrats stick to Telangana Bhavan protocol and budget, Raju’s taste seems to lean towards luxury. But this isn’t his first detour into controversy. During his earlier role as adviser for infrastructure and projects, he was known for poking his nose into all affairs — whether relevant or not. What’s riling senior IAS officers even more, however, is Raju’s razor-sharp tongue. Known for his digs during CM’s review meetings, his barbs — often directed at special chief secretaries and principal secretaries — have left many fuming behind the scenes.

Rajaְ Singh’s missed call can avoid a missed opportunity

When one door shuts, another may not open immediately but a window of opportunity is likely to pop up. Doing this bit for the beleaguered T. Raja Singh, the MLA from Goshamahal who quit the BJP, was party MP Arvind Dharmapuri who suggested that all it requires for Raja Singh to get back into the party is one missed call, the party’s open invitation for anyone to join it. Apparently, nothing says political reconciliation like dialling a number and hanging up. Arvind’s explanation was that Raja Singh’s case is not one of suspension, so a simple missed call can magically erase all the drama and any associated trauma. Whether this will end up as a missed call for the party, or a missed opportunity to Raja Singh is still up in the air.

All ears for soothsayer Errabelli’s prediction for local bodies’ poll

Former minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao from the BRS, who is yet to jump into the thick of action with his party gearing up for local body elections, is back with a prediction which he says is fully reliable. At a recent party event, he announced results of a survey he said he conducted and claimed the BRS will win 80-100 seats when the Assembly elections are held in Telangana. Trust me, I got this right, was his line and he supported this claim recalling how he advised party chief K. Chandrashekar Rao to change 20 candidates who were certain to lose in the last elections — including himself — and how that turned out to be true with his loss. With good times ahead as per him for the party in the Assembly in a future poll, party workers are now waiting to see what he has to say on the coming elections to the local bodies.

Lokesh lends a human touch to interactions

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s hallmark for long has been his straightforward business-like approach to tasks. For all those in the TD who are used to this, Naidu’s son and party general secretary and minister Lokesh’s interactions have come as a refreshing experience. An additional element of human touch is the verdict of all those who meet Lokesh. Lokesh, a transformed person after his walkathon, continues to go the extra mile during his daily meetings with at least 30-40 party functionaries from different parts of the state and patiently listens to their grievances. It has also become a routine for a majority of ministers to meet Lokesh for breakfast before a Cabinet meeting, with some staying in touch with him on a day-to-day basis. Lokesh has also been noticed not to leave any opportunity to express his warmth and friendly approach with alliance partner Pawan Kalyan, and was among the first to wish PK’s latest flick ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’ a success. The only thing Lokesh is not comfortable with, or even gets irritated is at, the sporadic clamour from some in the party that it is time for him to hold the baton. “There is no hurry. I will wait for my time,” seems to be his firm stand.

Nehru at receiving end over changing tunes

Most politicians are not immune from charges of changing parties when it suits them, and Jaggampeta’s TD MLA Jyothula Venkata Appa Rao alias Nehru, is no stranger to this phenomenon. While such changing colours is taken in stride, it hurts when it is pointed out as Nehru learnt recently. After leaving the TD to join the Praja Rajyam and then moving to the YSRC and then returning to the TD, Nehru found himself at the receiving end after taking a potshot at his YSRC bete noire in Jaggampeta, Thota Venkata Narasimham. Nehru decided Thota needed a lesson after the YSRC leader accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of political treachery and not fulfilling his election promises. Offended by the criticism, Nehru said Thota had no right to criticise Naidu given his oft changing of party affiliations. Pat came the response from Thota that Nehru is no stranger to this phenomenon. Nehru, according to party insiders, is now nursing a bruised ego.

Broken promise hits Joga Rao hard

Keeping promises to people is hard, and pointing that they have not been kept is harder. During a door-to-door ‘Babu surety... mosam guarantee’ campaign in Parvathipuram, YSRC’s former MLA Joga Rao who was distributing pamphlets on the topic, got an earful from a woman who wanted to know what happened to a free house promise by the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The pointed barb left Joga Rao visibly shaken and the woman’s persistent questioning was enough to stir him into beating a hasty retreat from the area, realising that some doors, especially when the promised houses are not delivered, will remain shut no matter who the leader is who comes calling.

TD, JS cadres find Roja’s barb worse than bite

What is blowing in the wind? If the question is posed to former minister and YSRC’s R.K. Roja, the reply will point to Nagari MLA Gali Bhanu Prakash. Roja, known for her sharp tongue that in the past has landed her in spots of trouble, has been accusing TD and Jana Sena leaders of rushing off to Hyderabad at the drop of a hat. For good measure, she added that if former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ever returns to power, then TD and JS leaders will probably wing their way to the US. Roja’s comments appear to have hit a bit of a raw nerve with TD and JS cadres calling on her to wind down her hot air comments.

Reel versus real: Pawan Kalyan knows it all

‘Power Star’ he may be for his fans, but AP’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan sure appears to know how the ground lies beneath his feet. At a couple of events promoting his movie ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’, Pawan pointed out that the red carpet was not exactly rolled out for his movie and he had to go through the hoops seeking increased ticket prices for the opening of the movie. And, in a candid mood, he also said acting is what keeps the much-needed funds to run his Jana Sena and to take care of his family flowing in. Of course, whatever comes in only stays if the movie succeeds. If it does not, he recollected how he had to fork out from his earnings in the past to film-makers to ensure they don’t bear the losses, thereby making it clear that be it political or movie limelight, reality is what counts in the end.

Contributions from Neeraj Kumar, Puli Sharath Kumar, L. Venkat Ram Reddy, N. Vamsi Srinivas, Laxmi Pranathi, Aruna, Avinash P Subramanyam, Sampat G. Samritan