AP NETA NATTER | How Naidu Exorcised ‘Jagan fear’ In Singapore
The fear apparently took deep root, according to Naidu, with investors from the island nation wary of making a beeline to AP even after a change in government
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has stirred a fresh political pot, claiming that “fear” of former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy once haunted investors from Singapore who were looking at AP to put their money in. The fear apparently took deep root, according to Naidu, with investors from the island nation wary of making a beeline to AP even after a change in government. Naidu, at a luncheon with ministers heading to Singapore for a training programme, revealed that it took considerable effort to reassure the Singaporeans to bring them back on board, after they got wary of getting involved in the Amaravati project, underscoring the diplomatic and investment outreach by the current coalition government. This outreach aside, the ministers now face a packed schedule in Singapore — classes from 8 am to 7 pm — sparking some of the outbound to wonder aloud if Singapore drew inspiration from Naidu, known for marathon review meetings that stretch up to 12 hours.
Politics turns angry, takes a terror turn
Suicide squads anyone? That offer from YSRC MP Mithun Reddy who declared that YSRC workers were ready to form such teams if their party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked for them, drawing sharp criticism from the minister Kollu Parthasarathi who immediately wanted to know if the YSRC was a political party or a terrorist organisation like Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Driving home the advantage, Parthasarathi dug the terrorism dagger deeper into the YSRC, blaming Jagan for fomenting terrorist ideology either to make money or to be in power and for creating fear psychosis among the people and investors. Not stopping there, the minister equated Jagan with the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar who believed in just two — money or the bullet. Stepping over the line to prove loyalty to one’s leader, can apparently be pretty suicidal as Parthasarathi is now finding out.
Naidu’s ‘sealed cover’ leaves partymen red in face
Sealed covers can contain secrets. Or do they? Such pieces of stationery can always evoke some interest, and when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gave them out to his alliance MLAs of Kakinada district, and Lok Sabha member T. Uday Srinivas, at Amaravati after a review meeting, there was much intrigue surrounding the incident. But once the envelopes were opened, the big reveal, well, kind of saw the receivers going red in the face. Each letter laid out each of the recipient’s weaknesses, and tips on improving performance, reinforcing Naidu’s image of a hard task master. Even the MP was not spared, apparently getting a bit of an earful, but Srinivas claimed it was otherwise, and what he received was praise. This was enough for his supporters to immediately celebrate the good news by garlanding him and so on. What really transpired between Naidu and Srinivas is known only to them but for now, the MPs supporters are fairly satisfied with their leader’s “performance”.
Roja’s politics comes with a health warning
In politics, wins are supposed to bring power, position and a lot of celebration. For former minister R.K. Roja, they seem to have brought something else along the way. Roja recently said her political career mostly gave her stress. After her first win as MLA, she started experiencing hypertension, and after her second win and becoming a minister, diabetes. Roja explained that managing constituency issues, party work and public expectations left no time to take care of her health. But when wins come with problems, losses can have some benefits too, at least for Roja who said after the defeat in the last elections, her stress levels were down, and not being an MLA was, well, sort of a welcome break. Peace of mind clearly comes with a price.
Contributions from Md Ilyas, Sampat G. Samritan, Vadrevu Srinivas, Avinash P. Subramanyam
