Realty watch: Loyalties swapped

Hyderabad, March 31: A few industrialists in the state gave the ruling Congress a shock by switching their loyalties to other parties after reaping benefits from the former for five years.

These industrialists obtained projects, got plum political appointments and were allowed to hold on to their property running into hundreds of acres because of the ruling party’s help.
But when it came to elections, they preferred the Telugu Desam and the Praja Rajyam to the Congress.
Mr M. Venugopala Reddy, group director of Ramky contesting on a TD ticket from Narasaraopet Lok Sabha seat, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams chairman Mr D. Adikesavulu Naidu who is all set to contest from Rajampet LS seat on a PR ticket and vernacular daily proprietor Mr Nukarapu Surya Prakasa Rao, the TD nominee from Anakapalle LS fall into this category.
The government had cancelled its plans to acquire 450 acres at Srinagar on the city outskirts belonging to Ramky after the company approached the government in 2007. The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority was asked to convert the proposed integrated township into a PPP project.
“The Huda also put certain tailor-made conditions to ensure that Ramky, the land owner, also bag the development contract and become a 100 per cent equity holder in the project,” a municipal official said.
The TTD chairman, Mr Adikesavulu Naidu, hit the headlines when he invalidated his vote in the trust vote faced by the Congress in Parliament last year.
Even before the TD took a decision on his suspension, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, rewarded him with the most sought after post of TTD chairman.
Mr Naidu, however, missed the chance to seek renomination from Chittoor as it is reserved for SCs.
The Congress was in no mood to sacrifice the Rajampet seat where the sitting MP Mr K. Sai Pratap has been elected five times to Mr Naidu. This prompted him switch his loyalty to the Praja Rajyam.
TD nominating Mr Surya Prakasa Rao came as a rude shock to leaders within the party. Mr Chandrababu Naidu accused Mr Surya Prakasa Rao of encroaching
government land in Nadergul with the help of advisor (public affairs) Mr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao during a debate in the Assembly. It organised protests demanding action against Mr Rao and recovery of land from his possession.
“The government can continue with the case. We have allotted ticket in recognition of Mr Rao’s service to the cause of social justice,” Mr Naidu said.
The Telugu Desam leaders in Anakapalle were so upset that they reprinted news reports containing Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s allegations against Mr Prakasa Rao and started distributing the same.