Turf wars heat up in TRS

A TRS MLA created quite the stir recently when he would not stop complaining about a former mayor painting his constituency pink with flexis and banners without his knowledge. Hearing about the incident two ministers intervened, but failed to settle it. The end to the tirade came when the more powerful of the two declared, "CM is not the emperor of the TRS and the MLAs are not his feudal lords," essentially saying the state does not belong to just one person. In another case, a TRS MLA from a posh constituency in the city is desperately trying to make amends with a party minority leader, after having used abusive language on the phone. After the man realised the call was being recorded he changed his tone. This vitriolic exchange happened when the man was questioned about why and how "certain elements" got entry into the party gala, but he was left out. The MLA in question is now worried that if the news of his choice of language reaches the party high command, he would be in trouble for slighting a party corporator from a minority community. These two incidents are just the tip of the iceberg at the TRS, which is becoming a hub of unhappiness according to insiders.

GOVT OFFICIALS CANCEL THEIR SUMMER BREAKS

Most government officials normally escape to cooler climes when the summer heats up in the state. This time around, however, the government has tasked them with finding ways to increase revenues thanks to the coffers being almost empty. Two officials have been asked to stay put and continue to sweat it out while searching for a way out of the financial pressures the Telangana state government is going through. Busy with brainstorming sessions to find ways and means to pump up revenues, these two top officials have been holding several meetings, leaving other bureaucrats out. For now, they have found an easy way out, despite the Centre’s refusal to allow the state to raise loans through auction of bonds, by sharply increasing liquor prices, life tax on vehicles, etc. The other option was to knock on the doors of banks and financial institutions. Imagine that!

NAIDU CLAIMS HE HAS THE ENERGY OF A 27 YEAR OLD