Lanka Dinakar Lauds Newly Elected TD Leaders In Bypolls At Pulivendula, Vontimitta
“The elections have not been democratic, TD won by rigging the by-elections through cyclical voting at all polling stations,” the MP charged.
Vijayawada:AP BJP leader and 20-Point Programme chairman Lanka Dinakar said those who indulge in intimidation of contestants for decades in a democratic set up have been made to lose their deposits in the recent by-polls. He asked the YSRC chief to learn a lesson. “If he fails to mend his ways, people will give a similar verdict in future polls too,” he underlined.
Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy of the YSRC accused TD leaders of misusing the police and preventing YSRC supporters from voting. “The elections have not been democratic, TD won by rigging the by-elections through cyclical voting at all polling stations,” the MP charged.
Day given to update Mega DSC scorecards
Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh government has given candidates one more day — Friday — to update their Mega DSC-2025 scorecard and TET marks on its website ‘https://apdsc.apcfss.in’ using their ID number.
Mega DSC-2025 convener M.V. Krishna Reddy, in a statement issued here on Thursday, said the scorecards had already been released. Candidates who have objections to their TET marks and wish to update them along with their DSC-2025 scorecards can avail of this facility for one day on August 15.
Four-day training on campus biodiversity ends
Tirupati:A four-day training programme on biodiversity documentation and conservation concluded on Thursday at Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) under the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education–Inter Institutional Cluster (APSCHE-IIC) initiative. The event brought together SPMVV, IIT-Tirupati, IISER-Tirupati and Dravidian University, Kuppam to collaboratively develop a Campus Biodiversity Register.
Held from August 11 to 14, the programme focused on using the iNaturalist application to record and analyse species observations on the SPMVV campus. On the opening day, Principal Investigator Prof. D.M. Mamatha outlined objectives, formed student teams and assigned survey areas.
Over the next two days, IISER Tirupati’s Co-Principal Investigators, Citizen-Science Coordinator A.S. Hareesha and PM Fellow Chiti Aravind trained participants in documenting plants, birds and insects using cameras and binoculars. Dravidian University’s Dr. V.M. Jyothi and Dr. Rajeswara Reddy also contributed.
The final day featured guided field walks through biodiversity zones, enabling real-time species documentation. The data will serve as a baseline for long-term biodiversity monitoring in the Tirupati cluster.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uma Vennam and Registrar Prof. N. Rajani lauded the initiative for creating a valuable biodiversity repository and fostering ecological awareness among students and researchers.
Gov. greets people of AP to mark 79th I-Day
Vijayawada:Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has conveyed his warm greetings to the people of the Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.
In a message from Raj Bhavan on Thursday, the Governor said, “Independence Day is a day of remembrance as well as dedication — a day to remember all those great freedom fighters whose sacrifice paved the way for us to enjoy the fruits of freedom, and a day to rededicate ourselves to the noble ideals of truth, non-violence, peace, solidarity and brotherhood that inspired our national struggle. Let us pledge to rededicate ourselves to the cause of nation-building. I wish you all a Happy Independence Day.”
YSRC seeks stern action into mosque break-in
Vijayawada: Opposition YSRC has strongly condemned those who broke into the century-old mosque at Dhoopadu village in Tripurantakam mandal of Prakasam district and set afire Jaanimaaz (prayer mats), holy Quran books, AC units, and fans, damaging the walls of the mosque. Former MLA and YSRC leader Hafeez Khan said he has informed the district SP about the incident, who assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits. He maintained that protection of religious places across the state is the responsibility of the state government. It must immediately arrest those responsible and fund the restoration of the small mosque, which has no independent income.
The former MLA said the attack should be seen as an assault on peace, faith and harmony, and condemned without hesitation by all sections of the society. Hafeez Khan maintained that whether it is a temple, a church, or a mosque, the government must take strict measures to ensure that no place of worship is ever vandalised in the future.
TD credits Pulivendula triumph to good governance
Kurnool:Telugu Desam leaders said democracy has prevailed in the ZPTC by-elections held in Pulivendula and Vontimitta, where people, who had not voted for nearly three decades, were finally able to cast their votes.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu ensured that they got this opportunity, allowing them to vote freely. In former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s own stronghold, Pulivendula, TDP candidate Maramreddy Latha Reddy registered a massive victory, while in Vontimitta, TDP’s Muddu Krishna Reddy also won with a huge majority.
Speaking to the media, TD state general secretary and KUDA chairman Somisetty Venkateswarlu, state SC Cooperative Finance Corporation chairman A Prabhakar, DCMS chairman Y. Nageswara Rao Yadav, and Kurnool constituency state observer Srinivasa Murthy said if the people had given Jagan Mohan Reddy another chance as Chief Minister, he would have destroyed Andhra Pradesh by spreading the influence of the Kadapa faction across the state. They criticised that even in his own Pulivendula, the YSRC candidate could not secure his deposit, and they credited Chandrababu Naidu for taking the necessary steps to allow free voting, which revealed the true verdict of the people in Jagan’s own backyard. They added that this victory reflects the trust people have in Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and his vision to take the state forward on the path of development.
HC dismisses pleas for repoll for ZPTCs at Pulivendula, Vontimitta
Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed the petitions of YSRC contestants for bypolls of Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituences at Pulivendula and Vontimitta in Kadapa district for a repoll alleging electoral malpractices.
A single judge bench headed by Justice G. Ramakrishna Prasad heard the petitions filed by contestants Tummala Hemanth Reddy and Yerragamreddy Subba Reddy seeking a direction to the State Election Commission to conduct of repoll by deploying CRPF personnel as the earlier bypolls held on August 12 were involved in irregularities.
Petitioners’ senior counsels P. Veera Reddy and S. Sriram argued that the polling agents belonging to the YSRC were not allowed into the polling stations while people from other constituencies cast bogus votes.
The State Election Commission’s counsel Vivek Chandra Sekhar argued that the petitions were not maintainable and submitted that under Article 243 (O) of the Indian Constitution and AP Panchayat Raj Act Section 233, the court was not supposed to interfere once the conduct of the election commenced and in case of any irregularities were noticed by the petitioners they could approach the SEC with evidence.
Advocate-General Dammalapati Srinivas argued that the petitions lacked maintainability and it could be decided through election petition.
TD credits Pulivendula triumph to good governance
Kurnool:Telugu Desam leaders said democracy has prevailed in the ZPTC by-elections held in Pulivendula and Vontimitta, where people, who had not voted for nearly three decades, were finally able to cast their votes.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu ensured that they got this opportunity, allowing them to vote freely. In former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s own stronghold, Pulivendula, TDP candidate Maramreddy Latha Reddy registered a massive victory, while in Vontimitta, TDP’s Muddu Krishna Reddy also won with a huge majority. Speaking to the media, TD state general secretary and KUDA chairman Somisetty Venkateswarlu, state SC Cooperative Finance Corporation chairman A Prabhakar, DCMS chairman Y. Nageswara Rao Yadav, and Kurnool constituency state observer Srinivasa Murthy said if the people had given Jagan Mohan Reddy another chance as Chief Minister, he would have destroyed Andhra Pradesh by spreading the influence of the Kadapa faction across the state.
They criticised that even in his own Pulivendula, the YSRC candidate could not secure his deposit, and they credited Chandrababu Naidu for taking the necessary steps to allow free voting, which revealed the true verdict of the people in Jagan’s own backyard. They added that this victory reflects the trust people have in Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and his vision to take the state forward on the path of development.
G.S.N. Raju receives ISTE lifetime achievement award
Visakhapatnam:Centurion University's Chancellor, Professor G.S.N. Raju, received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Engineering Educator' from the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE). The award was presented by ISTE President Dr. Desai and Anantapur JNTU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sudarshan, at a ceremony held Thursday evening at the Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science. During the ceremony, Professor G.S.N. Raju highlighted the importance of continually updating one's knowledge to keep pace with emerging technologies. He advised students to begin planning for either higher education or employment opportunities as early as their third year of high school.
HC directs police to allow ex-MLA Kethireddy to visit his house at Tadipatri from. Aug. 18
Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the police to allow former MLA Kethireddy Peddareddy to visit his house at Tadipatri at about 10 am to 11 am and to stay put there from August 18 and instructed them to make proper security arrangements.
A single judge bench headed by Justice N. Harinath held a hearing here on Thursday on a petition of contempt of court filed by the ex-MLA as the police were not providing adequate security to him to visit his house despite the orders issued by the court earlier.
Petitioner’s counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy argued that since the announcement of results in the last year’s elections, his client was unable to reach his home at Tadepatri as he was being obstructed by Tadipatri Municipal chairman J.C. Prabhakar Reddy.
The court issued directions for additional forces to be employed in case of need and only five vehicles to be allowed in his convoy of vehicles and not more than 50-60 people should stay up at the house of the ex-MLA.
The court posted the next hearing to August 19.
Farmers take out procession thanking PM, CM, DCM
Kakinada:Farmers led by Jana Sena leader and Kakinada Rural MLA Pantham Venkateswara Rao (Nanaji) took out their tractors in a procession from Turangi to Velangi on Thursday to thank Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for credited into their accounts amounts under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme.
The farmers performed abhishekam with milk to photos of Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan and Narendra Modi.
Speaking on the occasion, Nanaji said though the financial position of the state is poor, the alliance government is fulfilling its election promises.
Separately, at Hasanbada village in Ramachandrapuram mandal, farmers led by Labour minister Vasamsetty Subhash took out a procession on tractors from Hasnabad to Draksharama centre.
The minister interacted with farmers on the functioning of the alliance government.
Jagan lacks stature of opposition leader: Anam
Nellore:Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy came under sharp criticism from AP endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, who said the local body bypoll results in Pulivendula and Ontimitta showed how people had rejected him.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, the minister accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of lacking the stature of an opposition leader and using derogatory language against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He said Jagan’s comments reflected frustration over the YSRCP winning only 11 seats and alleged that the former CM had lost grip over his party. The minister also attacked Jagan for his “undemocratic past,” claiming he once prevented voters from reaching polling booths and intimidated candidates. He said the current government valued democracy, as seen in multiple candidates contesting freely. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy criticised Jagan’s “uncivil” remarks against political opponents and accused him of disrespecting even family members for political gain. He claimed that Pulivendula voters had punished Jagan for his behaviour, and predicted that the coalition government would return to power in the next elections. Referring to the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case, Anam said Kadapa people had not forgotten the incident or the pain of Viveka’s daughter, which influenced the poll outcome.
Gurukul student from Prakasam to study in the US
Nellore: Singarayakonda Gurukul intermediate student Surapogu Delisha has been selected under the prestigious Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KLYES) programme to pursue academics in the United States of America for a year. Following this, minister Dr. Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swami, along with Gurukul additional secretary Sunil Rajkumar and joint secretary (Academic) Sanjeev Rao felicitated Delisha in a grand ceremony at her school on Thursday. As a token of encouragement, the minister presented her with a cheque for ₹1 lakh. Congratulating the young achiever, he said the coalition government is committed to providing students with every facility to excel. Delisha and her parents expressed heartfelt gratitude to the minister for his support.
Hyderabad woman drowns in Vizag
Visakhapatnam:A 56-year-old woman, T. Vasantha, from Secunderabad, drowned at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, while her nephew, Sai Krishna, 35, was saved by the lifeguards. Sai Krishna was rushed to King George Hospital for treatment. A 26-year-old youth from Odisha, who tried to save Vasantha, also drowned. The police launched a search for his body. The Three Town police said Vasantha and her nephew Sai Krishna came to Visakhapatnam to attend a wedding ceremony. They visited RK Beach at about 5 pm. They ventured into waters for a splash when a strong current dragged Vasantha and Sai Krishna.
Witnessing the woman drowning, a young man from Odisha, Govind (26), jumped into the waters to rescue Vasantha. Unfortunately, he too was swept away by the current and went missing. Sai Krishna (35) was also caught in the current but was successfully rescued by marine police and lifeguards. He was immediately rushed to King George Hospital (KGH) for treatment. Police and lifeguards have since launched a search operation to locate the missing Govind.
