Andhra Pradesh Neta Natter | VKS — Naidu’s new salute to Modi

It’s never a bad idea to say nice things about one’s political partner, especially if that partner happens to be the Prime Minister. Taking this route in Varanasi, which also happens to be PM Narendra Modi’s constituency, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, at the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan recently, heaped praise on Modi, describing Kashi as Modi’s ‘Karmabhoomi’. Kashi, he said, had given the country not merely an MP but a national leader, and went on to talk about Vadnagar, Kashi and September and how they all mean something for Modi, and the country. Vadnagar is Modi’s birthplace, Kashi his Lok Sabha constituency and September, the PM’s birth month and thus the letters ‘VKS’ have significance. “Right time, right leader — Narendra Modi,” Naidu declared winding up his speech, and in the process, adding a new alliance acronym.

Lokesh gives YSRC a testing time

Amidst the ongoing battle between the TD government and the opposition YSRC on teacher recruitments, the ruling party’s national working president and minister for education N. Lokesh tried to give a new meaning for the DSC – being careful that this applies only to the YSRC. For Lokesh, DSC for the Opposition party stands for drugs, sand and cheap liquor. Referring to YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy’s repeated allegations of anomalies in the District Selection Committee exam in 2025 despite CM N. Chandrababu Naidu’s assurance that no irregularities occurred in the conduct of the exam, Lokesh’s take was that the YSRC chief’s demand for a CBI probe was a cover up for his alleged involvement in drugs, sand and cheap liquor mafia during the previous regime.

Jana Sena chafes at alliance dharma

All, it seems, is not well between Jana Sena and Telugu Desam in several constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. Though they seem to travel under one sail, on the ground each side is reportedly rowing its own way if the Jana Sena’s Tadepalligudem MLA Bolisetti Srinivas’s comments are anything to go. He avers that the Jana Sena is implementing the alliance ‘dharma’ but TD leaders were trying to undercut Jana Sena leaders and workers. To drill home the point, Srinivas revealed that Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also knows the facts and the time may not be far off when he will discuss these issues with TD supremo and CM N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Thaman and Tirumala: Round II

The first time was a surprise. That was when Tollywood music director Thaman was spotted alongside Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the start of the Brahmotsavams at Tirumala last year. Reviving the questions that did the rounds then, Thaman was back in Naidu’s entourage again at this year’s Brahmotsavams, with folks settling down to the idea that there may be some hidden unknown tunes to his presence for the second year in running at the festivities leaving onlookers wondering if this duet has now turned into a regular feature at Tirumala.

When Jagan got a ‘FBI’ takedown notice

Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Red Book’ politics appear to have found an international passport — with ‘FBI’ getting to play a cameo. Former chief minister and YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, no stranger to the long arms of law, is now wondering why he received a request from the ‘FBI’ to take down some posts on X, especially since the request came from an AP police email address, not the only FBI, that of the US. Jagan’s demand for an explanation on an AP police officer’s links with ‘FBI’ have so far been ignored even as he continues his attacks on the TD government over unfulfilled Super Six and Super Seven promises, alleged DSC irregularities, Amaravati construction, state debt and alleged governance failures. Jagan’s bottom line was that the latest episode undermined AP police’s credibility and instead of misusing power in this manner, the government will do well to keep its promises to the people.

After jumping ship, defector has second thoughts

Buyer’s remorse is an all too common experience and it appears it is no different for politicians. Take the case of Majji Sriivasa Rao alias Chinna Sinu who, the other day, walked into the TD fold along with his daughter Sahasra in style with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offering him the party scarf. Sinu who had high hopes for some plum posts for himself and his daughter is now said to be experiencing second thoughts as his followers in the YSRC, decided not to follow suit, even as the ruling party leaders in Vizianagaram are said to be resenting his entry into their turf. The word doing the rounds is that Sinu may be contemplating his return to YSRC, and that he is experiencing some pangs of regret about jumping ship.

TD MLA brings cadres’ skin in the game

Where do loyalties lie? That is the question TD cadres are asking of party first-time MLA from Rampachodavaram, Miriyala Sirisha. Amidst murmurs that she is more inclined towards the YSRC cadre and resolving their problems, the MLA appears to have made no new friends within her party after a recent outburst on alleged complaints to the TD high command about her ignoring party activists. Warning TD workers of stern action including ‘peeling their skins off’ the MLA reportedly wanted to know why her good work, such as getting `1.5 crore for development works in Addateegala, was not being talked about. Apparently, the questions from her party leaders locally, and them not erecting flexis for her programmes, have irked the one-time Anganwadi worker. The party workers are reportedly left wondering at the outburst when the party line is that every worker adds to TD’s strength.

Lokesh promise to make it up to MLA

It was perhaps a case of ‘prepare for 15,000, settle for a promise’ for Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, whose elaborate plans to give minister Nara Lokesh a grand welcome in his constituency reportedly ran into a last-minute itinerary change. Sridhar had reportedly mobilised party leaders to bring around 15,000 people, with nearly 500 from each of the 26 divisions, for a rally planned during Lokesh’s proposed Nellore Rural visit. But with Lokesh skipping the event, Sridhar and his cadres were left disappointed. Having learnt of the hurt feelings, Lokesh reportedly assured the MLA that he will visit the constituency at a later date, and pacified Sridhar saying he was free to fix the schedule for such a visit.

Contributions from Md Ilyas, Avinash P. Subramanyam, Rajasekhar Pathri, Vadrevu Srinivas Aruna, K.M.P. Patnaik, Sampat G. Samritan