When officials in charge of the visit, and also part of the organising team of the Miss World contest, realised what was about to happen – droves of political leaders jostling for space with the contestants — out went instructions that none, no matter who they are, were welcome into Buddhavanam for the duration of the visit of the girls contesting for the Miss World crown
It’s hard to keep politicians away from any big do. Left to themselves, they will either wrangle an invitation, or might even muscle in. Such was apparently the mood among several leaders in the run-up to the visit by Miss World contestants to Buddhavanam by the Nagarjunasagar reservoir. After all, it is a rare man that can resist the lure of glamour multiplied by a 100 or so. When officials in charge of the visit, and also part of the organising team of the Miss World contest, realised what was about to happen – droves of political leaders jostling for space with the contestants — out went instructions that none, no matter who they are, were welcome into Buddhavanam for the duration of the visit of the girls contesting for the Miss World crown. Among those who had to drop their plans were roads and buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and several MLAs. The no-entry fiat also hit Telangana Tourism Development Corporation chairman Patel Ramesh Rao, who had to leave Buddhavanam an hour before the arrival of the contestants, abruptly winding up his inspection of the arrangements.
Unholy battles over temple control
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s grand vision to give the Yadagirigutta temple a Tirumala-style makeover has hit a very human snag — politics. Despite the Telangana Assembly legislating in March the creation of Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA) on the lines of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board, the plan remains in limbo. The hold-up? A divine power struggle playing out in the corridors of the Congress. Two heavyweight ministers from Nalgonda district — N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy — are reportedly playing tug-of-war over who gets to anoint their chosen one as YTDA chairman. With both staking claim on the spiritual turf, the temple management finds itself in stalemate. In an attempt to broker celestial peace, the CM reportedly offered a “share-the-sceptre” solution: Appoint nominees of both leaders for two years each. A divine duet, perhaps? Meanwhile, as political bells toll, YTDA hangs in limbo — approved on paper, blocked by pride. For now, Lord Lakshmi Narasimha may have to bless his abode without a boardroom.
Dad doesn’t quite let son rise
The apparent lack of power in the hands of AP’s labour minister Vasamsetti Subhash, representing Ramachandrapuram constituency in Konaseema district, and his father Vasamsetti Satyam calling the shots in all constituency matters is causing severe heartburn in the TD cadres. This came to the fore at a recent TD mini-mahanadu event with Satyam presiding, and Subhash conspicuous by his absence. TD cadres were apparently galled that the father and son duo, who joined the TD just about a year ago before the elections, were throwing party protocols to the wind. Word doing the rounds is that Subhash, once pulled up by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is helpless and cannot get anything done for anyone unless father Satyam approves of it. The consensus in Ramachandrapuram is said to be that no matter how hard the TD cadres labour for the party, all the ‘shabashis’ are being claimed by Satyam, and not by Subhash.
Farming trouble, Atchhanaidu style
Is AP’s agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu farming trouble? This seems to be the case with Human Rights Forum, Rythu Swarajya Vedika, and the BC Welfare Association making it clear that the minister feigning ignorance about the problems of farmers in his constituency, is proof of that. At the heart of the problem is the non-implementation of GO No. MS 43 in Atchannaidu’s constituency. The order guarantees Rs 7 lakh in financial aid and a rehabilitation package for families of farmers who died by suicide. As politicians go, the minister, according to his critics, is treading the well-trodden path of denying any such suicide in his constituency. The facts speak otherwise, is the claim from the other side.
Old order changes, with much pain
Presentation is half the job done. Or at least when loyalties are concerned. Apparently, Anantapur zilla parishad chairperson Boya Girijamma did not get this memo and as a result got into a spot of problem the other day. Girijamma, associated with the YSRC, had in her office a portrait of former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the overall imagery of her office was not to the liking of TD leaders including MLAs M.S. Raju from Madakasira, A. Surendra Babu from Kalyandurg and Daggubati Venkateswara Prasad from Anantapur Urban who barged into Girijamma’s office the other day and demanded that the portraits of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and his deputy Pawan Kalyan, should be displayed instead that of the former CM. It fell on the ZP chief executive officer Ramamohan Reddy to do the honours, reportedly leaving the ZP chairperson fuming.
Kakani manages to stay off radar
Where in the world is Kakani Govardhan Reddy? This is the question that continues to do the rounds in Nellore as the former minister and YSRC district president, after being named in an illegal quartz mining case, has been taking every possible step, approaching court after court, to prevent his arrest. While his party leaders and cadre are wondering what comes next, the police who conducted some dramatic searches at his residences, and did not find him, pasted a notice asking Kakani to turn himself in. That a former minister cannot be found is not just possible, and, if the gossip doing the rounds is anything to go by, Kakani is getting some much-needed help from a senior leader from the ruling TD in his efforts to play for time.
Cong. leaders left out in dais protocol
Recognition. Even when it is minor, it is the oxygen of politics. After all, if a name is not announced, or one’s presence goes unacknowledged, it might just mean that person is a has-been or, worse, someone not worth mentioning. And this is the problem that is plaguing the Congress in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Some party leaders are increasingly becoming vocal that local MLAs are ignoring their presence, even when they share the dais at events, and more appalling, not even mentioning their names, as is considered customary in speeches by elected representatives. The charges flying around are that this is deliberate snubbing and pointed humiliation during official programmes. Even those who believe that they have achieved something, such as a chairmanship of a state-owned corporation, are miffed at MLAs for giving them the royal ignore. The case of another Congress MLA is more piquant. His complaint? He is not referred to as ‘former minister’ by party leaders.
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Contributions from P. Srinivas, Pillalamarri Srinivas, L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Sampat G. Samritan, Vadrevu Srinivas, Aruna, Avinash P. Subramanyam
