AP Neta Natter| Naidu’s Prize: A Cup Of Coffee And a Conversation
Reviewing Amaravati capital works with construction company representatives, Naidu promised to invite them for coffee if they completed quality works within the stipulated deadlines. The message behind the hospitality, however, was anything but soft: Delays would not be tolerated, could turn bitter for those at the receiving end
If Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has his way, chai pe charchas could be passé and it could be time for Coffee with Chandrababu. Naidu, famous for his stern warnings to officials during review meetings and field inspections, has now turned his attention to contractors — with a rather bitter-sweet warning. Reviewing Amaravati capital works with construction company representatives, Naidu promised to invite them for coffee if they completed quality works within the stipulated deadlines. The message behind the hospitality, however, was anything but soft: Delays would not be tolerated, could turn bitter for those at the receiving end. “Speed up the work. If you do them well, I will invite you for coffee,” he told the contractors, making it clear that participating in Amaravati’s construction was a major opportunity. Though the pace of work had improved compared to the past, he said it remained inadequate. With funds not being a constraint, there could be no excuse for delays. For the contractors, the takeaway was simple: deliver on time and earn the coffee; delay, and the sweetness may disappear.
Social media gives Pawan a rude reminder
Elephants, they say, have long memories. But clearly, the internet has a much longer one as Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is apparently finding out. His recent emotional remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi — that he was moved to tears after hearing protesters at Jantar Mantar use abusive language against Modi — gave his opponents fresh ammunition. Soon after he said that, old videos started resurfacing on social media one after another. Pawan’s speeches criticising Modi over special category status started circulating. Netizens also began asking why Pawan expressed pain over the remarks against Modi but had little to say about the heavy-handed handling of youths during the NEET protests. Clearly, while politics allows leaders to change sides, the internet has other ideas, preserving every speech, every criticism and every praise.
Time flies: Foes turn Lokesh’s admirers
In politics, shifting attitudes often reveal more than speeches, and Vizag’s Thotagaruvu has become a striking example. P.V. Sindhu, who first performed Bhoomi Puja on the allotted land in November 2024 under police protection amid protests, returned on August 5 with education minister Nara Lokesh for the foundation ceremony of the Centre for Sports Excellence. The contradiction was evident at this event: local TD leader Ommi Sanyasirao, once a vocal protester demanding the land be given to a junior college, now welcomed Lokesh with banners and flowers, staying until the programme’s end. His reversal has become a hot topic locally. Adding further intrigue, Vizag East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishnababu, who was earlier believed to have supported the protests against the allotment, also attended the event alongside Lokesh. His visible presence, despite past associations with protests, has sparked fresh discussions in political circles about how leaders recalibrate their positions when circumstances change.
Bhupatiraju runs into turbulence at airport do
A slip of the tongue is not an uncommon occurrence in politics but two in succession can raise some eyebrows. And this is just what happened to Union minister of state for heavy industries and steel Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma during the inauguration of Bhogapuram International Airport. Varma, during his speech, referred to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan as the Chief Minister and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as Deputy Chief Minister. Apparently not realising what he said, he repeated the same gaffe soon after. On the dais were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, civil aviation minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, education minister Nara Lokesh, Goa Governor P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, and several other dignitaries. The repeated slips were met with moments of silence with no visible reaction from the leaders, but that did not stop some all-knowing smiles and winks among the audience. Before long, video clips of the minister’s inadvertent remark began circulating widely on social media, quickly going viral, making sure that even those unaware of what happened, now knew.
From abuse and rhetoric, it’s raining curses and rituals
The political battlefield has taken an unexpected detour — from campaign speeches to claims of curses, counter-curses and sacred rituals. The ruling Congress and the opposition BRS are locked in an unusual contest, with Congress leaders accusing a BRS leader of performing alleged rituals at temples in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to trigger a drought in Telangana by stopping the much-needed rain during the El Nino-hot monsoon and politically weaken the Revanth Reddy government. The BRS has dismissed the allegations as outrageous, firing back with legal notices. Unfazed, the Congress insists that it possesses evidence to substantiate its charges. Not content with a war of words, the party has announced a symbolic counter-offensive — a Varuna Yagam at the Nagarjunasagar dam later this week, praying for abundant rainfall while claiming it will neutralise the alleged effects of any ritual to the contrary.
Contributions from Aruna, Avinash P. Subramanyam, Md Ilyas, K.M.P. Patnaik, L. Venkat Ram Reddy
