Naidu morphs into a jack of all trades on his road to a political comeback

Chandrababu Naidu during his ongoing ‘Vastunna Mee Kosam’ walkathon is trying his hand at every work done in rural areas so as to regain his credibility.

Published: 30th December 2012 11:55 AM  |   Last Updated: 30th December 2012 01:25 PM

By J R Prasad

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s padayatra reminds one of John Bunyan’s allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, in which Christian, an everyman character undertakes an arduous and daunting journey from his hometown, the ‘City of Destruction’ (this world), to the ‘Celestial City’ (heaven) atop Mount Zion.

Naidu during his ongoing ‘Vastunna Mee Kosam’ walkathon is trying his hand at every work done in rural areas so as to regain his credibility. It is not clear whether he is warming his way into the hearts of the people or is just invoking sympathy for a person who is doing silly things while frantically trying to regain power.

The Congress took a dig at Naidu’s antics and said that this was his way of atoning for his sins of not doing anything for the people during his nine long years as chief minister of the state. Congress minister S Shailanath said, “Naidu’s padayatra is his reparation. But this repentance may not cleanse his sins.”

Naidu defended all his actions and said, “I am doing this to tell the people that I care for their traditional crafts and professions. New life has to be breathed into them by making them profitable.”

One day the TDP chief joins farmers and ploughs fields. He even helps women labourers in sifting chaff from grain. After that he rears sheep like a shepherd. The next day, he climbs palm trees and collects toddy into a pot and   offers it to villagers.  After that he beats drums and plays flute to identify himself with the common man.

On the Christmas day, the TDP president took part in the celebrations. He appeared as Santa Claus, giving gifts to children, in Sultanabad mandal of Karimnagar district. When he walked across the Muslim dominated mandals in Nizamabad and Adilabad districts, Naidu wore the traditional Muslim cap and even offered prayers in mosques and darghas. While walking through Bodhan Mandal in Nizamabad district, he mended a punctured bicycle tyre. After that he drove auto rickshaws and wove baskets. In Buddipadu village of Mahbubnagar district, Naidu played the role of a cobbler and tried repairing footwear.

No one knows whether the TDP chief's padayatra will really help him regain power in 2014. But his walkathon is for now helping Naidu try his hand in every traditional craft.

The Sunday Standard

All the all-party action, blow by blow

Published: 29th December 2012 11:27 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th December 2012 11:27 AM

By J R Prasad

HYDERABAD: Inside accounts of the proceedings of the all-party meeting on Telangana on Friday indicated that the Centre is mulling a power plus money option for Telangana, short of separate statehood.

 In other words a juicy devolution package.

 Hinting at a financial package and a regional development council for Telangana, Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is understood to have said during the meeting, “Similar to Telangana, there was an agitation for a Gorkhaland state too.

 The government has taken a decision on Gorkhaland.

 But the Telangana issue is still pending.

 So we want to take a decision.

 We will announce a decision in a month’s time.

” Since the Gorkhaland issue was resolved by setting up a regional council, political circles expect that Telangana too will be offered the same solution.

 After hearing out all the eight political parties invited to the meeting, Shinde reportedly said, “I will convey all your viewpoints to the Centre and the Congress high command so as to take a decision in a month.

 When I say one month, it could be one month or eight days or six.

 But it will take maximum 30 days.

” Pieced together from insider accounts, here is a blowby- blow account of the allparty meet.

 The meeting at North Block commenced at 10.

16 a.

m.

 As soon as Shinde entered the hall, he greeted all the delegates.

 Before asking each party by turn to spell out its stance, he said,”I know everything about the Telangana issue.

 The statehood demand has been there for several years.

 After considering the opinions of all political parties, the Centre announced steps towards a Telangana state on Dec.

 9, 2009.

 But after facing opposition from the other regions and some parties, the Centre made another announcement on Dec.

 23, 2009.

 Now I request you all to express your views.

”

However, the opposition parties replied that their opinions are already on record, so it was for the Congress and the Centre to speak their mind.

 They demanded that the Centre and the Congress should speak first.

 They also asked the Union home minister to divulge what proposals the Centre was weighing.

 When Shinde did not take the bait, CPM state secretary B V Raghuvulu got up from his seat and threatened to walk out if the Congress does not start off the deliberations first.

 At this, the Congress representative from Telangana K R S u r e s h Re d d y said,”Congress is for two states.

 A Telangana state must be formed.

” As his Seemandhra comrade, Gade Venkat Reddy, was expressing his opposition to bifurcation, Shinde intervened and posed a question to the leaders: “What else is there? It seems the Congress is saying that it is for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh?” Raghavulu intervened and said,”If so, please record this in the minutes book.

 We all will put signatures as witnesses.

” Shinde replied that the minutes of the meeting were not being recorded.

 Confusion prevailed for a while as the delegates exhanged asides that this was a curious way of conducting a meeting.

 Shinde appealed for calm, saying, “We all should behave in a proper manner.

 If you continue disrupting the proceedings, I will go to my room and sit there.

 Then you all will have to come there one by one and express your opinions.

” There was silence and then the representatives agreed to speak in alphabetical order.

 BJP: We are for division

BJP state president G Kishan Reddy submitted a letter to Shinde, saying his party was in favour of bifurcation.

 He assured Shinde that the BJP will back a Telangana bill if introduced in Parliament.

 CPI: Bifurcate the state immediately

CPI representatives K Narayana and Gunda Mallesh demanded immediate bifurcation of the state if the Centre was really concerned about development of AP.

 CPM: Immediate decision wanted

CPM leader Raghavulu said his party was for keeping Andhra Pradesh as it is.

 However, the Centre’s indecisiveness has created uncertainty in the state.

 Hence, the Centre should take an immediate decision on the issue.

 TRS: Separate State.

 Now! TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao demanded that the Centre must make it clear whether it will create a Telangana or nor.

 He said the Dec.

 9 pledge was the only statement on which the Centre has gone back after informing Parliament of it.

 Fellow delegate Narasimha Reddy demanded immediate steps towards Telangana.

 TDP: Here are two letters

TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu handed over two letters in sealed covers to Shinde on behalf of his party boss, saying that the TDP had submitted a letter to the Pranab Mukherjee committee in 2008 in support of a Telangana state.

 “Now we are giving you that letter along with our party chief’s fresh letter that since we did not take back the previous letter on Telangana, the Centre should resolve the issue now.

” TRS attacks TDP’s double stance

TRS delegate Narasimha Reddy intervened and asked the TDP, “But you people had made an aboutturn when the Centre promised a Telangana state on Dec.

 9, 2009.

 What about that?” Shinde intervened and asked Reddy not to argue with the TDP leaders: “Let them say their views.

 This is not a forum to criticise one another”.

 MIM Asad argues with CM

MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said his party favours a united Andhra Pradesh.

 If division is inevitable, then a Rayala-Telangana state should be formed with Hyderabad as its capital.

 Having said this, the MIM boss turned his attention to chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was invited to the meeting, alleging that soon after he assumed office, the police have started harassing Muslim youth with false cases.

 There was a heated argument between Asad and Kiran Reddy.

 Shinde pacified them.

 Onus on Centre, YSRC says in Telugu

The YSRC took the last turn.

 M V Mysoora Reddy spoke in Telugu saying that since the World Telugu Conference was being held, he would speak in Telugu.

 He submitted a letter to Shinde saying that his party plenary had passed a resolution that it would respect the sentiments of the people of Telangana.

 The Center should take a decision like a father without harming the interests of anybody, he added.

 Gade: We are for Samaikyandhra

The Congress representative from Seemandhra, Gade Venkata Reddy, earlier interrupted by Shinde, go to express his opinions last.

 He recalled the history of Telugus and recollected the comments made by Jawaharlal Nehru at the time of merger of Telangana with Andhra.

 He also recalled the remarks of Indira Gandhi during the 1969 agitation.

 Saying that his opinion was for united Andhra Pradesh, he submitted a letter to Shinde.

CM, PCC chief shortlist six names

Published: 27th December 2012 09:09 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th December 2012 09:09 AM

By J R Prasad

With the all-party meeting on Telangana just two days away, the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana are learnt to have sent to the high command, a list of six names (three each from Telangana and Seemandhra) to represent the party in the talkathon.

Sources said the names from Seemandhra include former minister Gade Venkata Reddy and MPs Ananta Venkatarami Reddy and Undavalli Arun Kumar. From Telangana, the names of Mallu Ravi, MLC K R Amos and MP Ponnam Prabhakar are said to have been finalised.

The list has been sent to AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who will pick two names for the meeting.

The chief minister and the PCC chief had a lengthy meeting at the former’s camp office here on Wednesday, Sources said Kiran Kumar Reddy is in favour of sending Gade Venkat Reddy and Mallu Ravi from Seemandhra and Telangana respectively to the meeting.

Veteran leader Gade’s is said to reflect the view of the chief minister that a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) should be set up to resolve the Telangana issue.

Gade recently wrote a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, suggesting to her some measures to tackle the issue. A second SRC and implementation of the sixth recommendation of the Srikrishna Committee were his key suggestions.

On the Telangana side, Kiran Reddy is said to favour Mallu Ravi as the delegate as he is not a Telangana hardliner. Ravi is also considered as a Kiran Reddy loyalist.

CM does the rounds in Delhi

Published: 23rd December 2012 08:57 AM  |   Last Updated: 23rd December 2012 10:25 AM

By J R Prasad | ENS

With the all-party meeting on the Telangana tangle just days away, three top men from the state - governor ESL Narasimhan, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana - are busy meeting top Congress functionaries in the national capital.

Kiran Kumar’s sudden visit to Delhi even as the other two were already camping there, as well as his hectic parleys with state affairs in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde have triggered several speculations on the Telangana issue, a likely cabinet reshuffle and the prosecution of ministers in the Jagan Mohan Reddy case.

Some Telangana Congress leaders have predicted a financial package or setting up of a development council for the region as a temporary solution soon after the all-party meeting. The fact that the summons to the chief minister came a day after AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi met two Telangana leaders, deputy chief minister Damodara Rajanarasimha and panchayat raj minister K Jana Reddy, has added to the rumours.

CM, during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and Azad at her 10 Janpath residence on Saturday, is understood to have submitted a report on the party’s situation in the state as well as the T issue. Though there was no clarity on what transpired at the meeting, state Congress leaders feel that the leaders might have discussed the strategy to be adopted by the party on Dec 28. The issue of the governor rejecting the cabinet recommendation to save Dharmana Prasada Rao from CBI’s prosecution is also understood to have figured in the meeting. Kiran is also reported to have sought a nod to reshuffle the cabinet.

Earlier in the day, Kiran Kumar met Azad and Shinde separately. In the latter meeting, the CM expressed his inability to attend the National Development Council meeting on December 27 due to the inauguration of the World Telugu Conference at Tirupati on the same day.

Kiran later had an hour-long meeting with Botcha at the AP Bhavan where the duo finalised a list of probables for nominated posts. Later they together met Azad to discuss the list. Six names have been proposed, which include Undavalli Arun Kumar and Suresh Shetkar. Meanwhile, AICC secretary KB Krishna Murthy said there would not be any change of guard either in the state or in the state Congress.

Congress meeting tries to ignore Telangana issue

Even as the all-party meeting on the separate statehood issue is nearing, the word Telangana was taboo at the Congress state-level executive meeting held Sunday, much to the chagrin of leaders from the region.

Published: 17th December 2012 08:52 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th December 2012 08:52 AM

By J R Prasad | ENS

Even as the all-party meeting on the separate statehood issue is nearing, the word Telangana was taboo at the Congress state-level executive meeting held Sunday, much to the chagrin of leaders from the region.

At the meeting which lasted more than nine hours, neither the AICC state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad nor PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana who presided over the convention, broached the subject in their speeches. The Congress leaders from the region had to be content with observing two-minutes of silence for the Telangana martyrs and the victims of Nilam cyclone.

The situation, however, was not without protests. As soon as the convention began at 11.00 a.m. at the LB Stadium, MP Ponnam Prabhakar broke the silence on the issue, asking the leaders to pay respect to the martyrs of Telangana. But Botcha said: “The state witnessed agitations in all the regions. In those agitations, people from all the regions lost their lives.”

His statement was met with anger and full-throated ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans. The tension prevailed for five minutes after which the PCC chief asked the leaders to observe one-minute silence for those who lost their lives either due to agitations or the Nilam cyclone.

Peeved at being clubbed with a natural disaster, several party workers started raising slogans again and calmed down only after being appealed to do so by minister K Jana Reddy.

Prabhakar once again broached the subject at around 12.30 p.m.  and again received a swift ‘no’, leading to more slogans and protests. Finally Azad had to intervene and led the assembly of leaders in observing two-minutes of silence for the martyrs and cyclone victims. The PCC chief too then made a postscript mention of the issue in his concluding speech.

Centre’s all party chaos and drama over Telangana

The Centre’s decision for an all party meet on Telangana has’t found many takers, including its own ‘Telangana’ MPs.

Published: 16th December 2012 10:38 AM  |   Last Updated: 16th December 2012 10:38 AM

By J R Prasad

The Centre’s decision to invite two representatives from each political party to the all-party meeting on the Telangana issue on December 28 at Delhi seems to have dropped enough hints that it wants to drag the issue for some more days.

The decision could be seen as a respite to three parties from the state—Congress, TDP and YSRCP—which have been avoiding to declare their unambiguous stance on the issue of state’s bifurcation. Soon after receiving letters from the Union Home Ministry on the meeting, the separatist Telangana Rashtra Samiti, said that the Congress was playing another drama.

The TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao described the meet as a political stunt. “Congress has raised a new drama in the name of all-party meeting. I have lost all hopes that it would deliver a Telangana state. Why is the Centre resorting to delay tactics? Why has it invited two representatives from each party if it really had any intent of creating a separate state?” he lambasted. Rao called upon the Telangana Congress MPs to join the T-movement.

Even the ruling Congress is witnessing T-ripples within the party as the Centre’s decision of inviting two members from each party to the meeting has not gone down well with Telangana leaders of the party. T-MPs of the party insisted that the party high command spell out its stance in unambiguous terms at the all-party meeting. Expecting no positive result from the all-party meeting, some MPs are even keeping the option of joining other parties open.  Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannadham has dropped enough hints in this regard. He acknowledged that he has been invited by the TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao to join the latter’s party. Talking to The Sunday Standard, he however said that he would think about the invitation only in case of the all-party meet failed to give any clarity on the T-issue.

The TRS chief recently told his party leaders that as many as five MPs from the Congress were ready to join the pink party soon.

Meanwhile, Nalgonda MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Peddpalli MP G Vivekanand and Nizamabad MP Madhu Yashki Goud too did not approve of the Centre’s decision. Speculation is rife that Sukhender Reddy has kept his options open either to join the YSRCP or the TRS. Vivekananad said, “We are being invited by the TRS chief to his party. Our party should spell out its stance clearly over T-issue during the all-party meeting. Otherwise, we will forever remain as the betrayers of Telangana.”

On the other hand, Seemandhra leaders have welcomed the Centre’s decision. “Some people want Andhra Pradesh to remain intact. Some others want a Telangana state, while others want Hyderabad to be made a Union Territory. So, whoever represents the party at the meeting should express all these views,” said minister Sake Sailajanath, who is also convener of AP Congress legislators forum.

TDP in a fix: The TDP is in a fix about the meeting. Since all the leaders of the party from the Telangana region have already declared that their party will send only one representative to the meeting, it is to be seen what plans TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has up his sleeve.

YSRCP undecided: The YSRCP is demanding that the Congress express its stance first. Congress MP Sabbam Hari said, “It is the UPA which should take a clear decision on the Telangana issue. The issue will not be solved merely by gathering the opinions of all the parties.”

BJP may skip meet: The separatist BJP is planning to skip the meeting altogether as it feels that no decision will be taken at the meeting since the Congress is not committed to state’s bifurcation.

Meanwhile, CPI, the pro-Telangana party, has decided to attend the meeting. The CPI(M), which stands for united Andhra Pradesh, demanded a clear-cut proposal from the Centre to resolve the Telangana issue before holding an all-party meeting. The MIM does not want the present state disturbed. If at all division is inevitable, it might bargain for a Rayala Telangana where there are pockets of sizable Muslim population.

Centre invites twos to tangle

Published: 13th December 2012 08:24 AM  |   Last Updated: 13th December 2012 08:24 AM

By J R Prasad | ENS

Two-eyed parties such as the TDP, Congress and YSR Congress  have been invited to talk in two tongues at the all-party meeting on the Telangana issue scheduled for Dec. 28. The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday sent out invitations to political parties of Andhra Pradesh to send two representatives each to what will now be a gabfest of double talk.

Political leaders on the Telangana side of the divide began yelling blue murder over this manouevre, saying it was a ruse to cloud the issue rather than resolve it.

The invitations were sent out by an additional secretary in the Union Home Ministry, K Skandan, to nine recognised parties from AP:  Congress, TDP, YSR Congress, TRS, BJP, CPI, CPM, MIM and Lok Satta. The first three are Janus-faced on the issue, pro-bifurcation in Telangana and integrationist in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. The next three are solidly for a seprate state, and the latter three vehemently against. The last six are not likely to send two reps each to the meeting, while two of the first-named three -- TDP and Congress -- are likely to lap up the invitation.

The meeting will convene at 10 am on Dec. 28 in room no. 103 in the North Block in New Delhi.

In his letter, Skandan desisted from calling the meeting an all-party meeting and imputed that it has been called because MPs from Andhra Pradesh wanted a dialogue and they were getting one.

Telangana Congress MPs, whose pressure tactics presumably forced the Centre to call this conclave were the unhappiest with this tango of twos.

Two Congress MLCs from Telangana, K Yadav Reddy and Bhanu Prasad, said this seemed to betray the Union home minister’s intention to complicate the matter further.

Already, Telangana Congress leaders were talking about going to Delhi to lobby the high command to withdraw the invitation to twos and limit the discussion to clearly spelt out stances by all parties in the field.

Opposition parties were less charitable. TRS legislator T Harish Rao said this showed the “non-serious approach” of the Congress in solving the Telangana issue. “The Centre says it has sent these letters only at the request of some MPs from the state. This itself shows that neither the Centre nor the Congress high command wants to solve the Telangana issue,” he said. While Telangana leaders feigned shock, there have several signals from high commandos that the Centres intends to keep the issue in the logjam of talks for a long time to come. Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in Delhi two days ago that the process of holding consultations on the Telangana  issue would continue till a conclusion is arrived over the issue.

Spirits dip between both Botcha and Kiran

After a long truce, old foes Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Botcha Satyanarayana are at it once again.

Published: 09th December 2012 10:03 AM  |   Last Updated: 09th December 2012 10:03 AM

By J R Prasad

After a long truce, old foes Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Botcha Satyanarayana are at it once again.

Botcha, whose family has entrenched interests in the state's lucrative liquor industry is angry with Kiran Reddy for permitting distilleries to enhance liquor prices. Botcha is worried that any decision benefiting the distilleries would be understood differently by people and as a result the party's image might take a hit. He said: “As APCC president I, will tell the chief minister not to take any decisions which will damage the electoral prospects of the Congress across the state.”

The APCC chief, whose family used to have 27 per cent share in 37 liquor shops in north Andhra region till recently, is now planning to take up the issue with Reddy. Botcha's war with Reddy goes back along way: earlier this year, after Reddy ordered a crackdown on liquor vendors and officials involved in a multicrore excise scam he had even shot off a letter to Ghulam Nabi Azad, accusing the CM of harassing him by organising raids on his liquor shops.

Though the hike may not pinch the tipplers since it will be borne by the government—around `1,400 crore—Botcha does not see any reason why distilleries should be allowed to hike the prices. The APCC chief felt he did not mind if the state government increases excise duty and trade margin on liquor because the additional revenue will only go back to the people in another form like funds for tuition fee reimbursement for students or social welfare programmes.

Botcha’s supporters say that the government had increased excise duty and trade margin only to benefit the distilleries. The increase will net the government an extra `4,500 crore a year from which it will be paying the distilleries.

Excise Minister K Parthasarathy, who is close to Kiran Reddy, dismisses Botcha’s argument as far fetched. “We are not allowing the distilleries to hike liquor prices irrationally. The government has an agreement with them that the prices could be revised either upwards or downwards once in every three years. This time they sought an increase that on select brands not consumed by the poor,” he said adding that he would speak to Botcha and clarify all his doubts.

Sorry ma'am: Telangana MPs bow to UPA chairperson

“Sorry Madam. We have caused a lot of pain and embarrassment to you with our aggressive attitude during the session.\" the MPs are understood to have said.

Published: 07th December 2012 09:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th December 2012 09:35 AM

By J R Prasad | ENS

A day after they succeeded in persuading the Centre to convene an all-party meet on the Telangana issue, seven Congress MPs had a lengthy audience with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The MPs, who had protesting for Telangana since the start of the winter session of Parliament, reportedly expressed their regret for their belligerent attitude. 

“Sorry Madam. We have caused a lot of pain and embarrassment to you with our aggressive attitude during the session. In fact, we never wanted to defy your orders. But we acted like that only to bring to your notice how serious the Telangana issue is. As many as 800 youngsters of the region have laid down their lives for the sake of separate statehood. We only wanted to convey this to you with our protests,” the MPs are understood to have said.

According to sources, Sonia gave a sympathetic ear to them and, with a smile, said: “I too was never angry with any of you. I can understand your point. Our party is sympathetic towards Telangana and we are examining the issue.”

The MPs - Ponnam Prabhakar, Manda Jaganadham, G Vivek, Gutta Sukhender  Reddy, Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, Siricilla Rajaiah and Madhu Yashki Goud - met Gandhi at 10 Janpath in Delhi. Congress general secretary for AP Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel were present at the contrition session.

During the 45-minute meeting, the MPs requested Sonia Gandhi to take a decision in favour of separate statehood and not to compare the issue to other such demands in the country. They said the party could not go back on the promise as it had included it in its manifesto for the 2004 and 2009 polls as well as the UPA’s Common Minimum Programme. They also said that after the Dec 9, 2009 announcement by then home minister P Chidambaram, the Telangana sentiment has grown and the TDP and the YSR Congress were trying to take advantage of the Congress’ indecision.

The MPs also made it clear that no political or financial package for Telangana would satisfy them and anything short of statehood would only compound the problems of the Congress. “With the emergence of the YSRC in Andhra, voters are polarised on a caste basis. There is a Kamma and Reddy conflict and with this, our party could gain the support of BCs, SCs and STs. Whereas in Telangana, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, all sections of people are demanding statehood. If our party wants to gain lost ground, the only solution is T-state,” the MPs said.

Jaipal, 7 Telangana MPs stay away from FDI meet

Published: 05th December 2012 09:32 AM  |   Last Updated: 05th December 2012 09:32 AM

By J R Prasad

The Congress MPs from Telangana are striking while the iron’s hot. The party high command, who, afraid of facing dissent had planned a meeting with the MPs on the FDI-in-retail issue on Tuesday, received a major snub when eight of them, including Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, did not turn up.

The meeting held by Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath saw the Telangana MPs play the pressure card as Ponnam Prabhakar, Manda Jagannadham, Madhu Yashki Goud, Siricilla Rajaiah, G Vivek, Gutta Sukhender Reddy and Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy ignored the invitation.

Rajya Sabha member Palvai Govardhan Reddy and Union minister for science and technology Jaipal Reddy  too did not attend the meeting. However, close aides of both the leaders said they had prior engagements.

However, Union ministers of state Sarve Satyanarayana and P Balram Naik attended the meeting as did V Hanumatha Rao, Suresh Shetkar, Anjan Kumar Yadav and MA Khan.

Interestingly, three of the eight MPs who kept away, met K Chandrasekhar Rao who has already decided to vote against the FDI in retail, setting off speculation that they might find a new home in the TRS. Manda Jagannadham, Vivek and Rajaiah held lengthy discussions with Rao on Tuesday night at Vivek’s residence.

The rest of the rebel MPs, meanwhile, met at the residence of Jaipal Reddy at the same time.

Resignations pose no danger to Kiran government

Published: 30th November 2012 09:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 30th November 2012 09:19 AM  

By J R Prasad | ENS

Even if Punganur Congress MLA Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy’s resignation is accepted, there will be no immediate threat to the survival of N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s government in the state.

The Assembly has an effective strength of   293 members (TDP legislator Suman Rathod’s membership was annulled by the court), and the Congress’ strength is 153 (including one associate member).

If Ramachandra Reddy’s resignation is accepted, the ruling party’s strength will come down to 152 which will be five more than the “magic figure” of 147 needed for simple majority. That means, even after accepting Ramachandra Reddy’s resignation,  the state government will not be in peril.  Some Congress leaders feel that since speaker N Manohar is opposed to “repeated bypolls”, it is unlikely that he will accept the latest resignation.

As the speaker has not yet taken a decision on the resignations of Congress legislators S Venkata Krishna Ranga Rao (Bobbili), All Kali Krishna Srinivas alias Nani (Eluru) and Maddala Rajesh Kumar (Chintalapudi), who defected to the YSR Congress, Congress leaders say Manohar will not act hastily on Reddy’s resignation also.  

However, some Congress leaders think that  if some more MLAs of the ruling party also put in papers, the government will then be in real danger.

Peddireddi’s resignation might push the Kiran Kumar Reddy government into a further awkward position as already three MLAs have quit to join the YSRC.

Meanwhile, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has made light of the resignation of Ramachandra Reddy. Talking to reporters at the CLP office here on Thursday, G Veera Siva Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Reddy had resigned from his membership of the Assembly only to benefit the YSRC.

“Some seniors in the Congress have reserved their berths in the YSRC by sending their political heirs there. These coverts of Jagan are slowly unmasking their original faces. Same is the case with Ramachandra Reddy,” he said.

Miffed Jaipal skips Metro Rail launch

The simmering differences between Kiran Reddy and Union minister for science and technology S Jaipal Reddy took a new turn Sunday, when the latter chose to stay away from the launch of the second phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail Project at Uppal.

Published: 26th November 2012 08:43 AM  |   Last Updated: 26th November 2012 12:02 PM

By J R Prasad | ENS

Even as the “letter row”, where Union minister V Kishore Chandra Deo purportedly wrote a missive against chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botcha Satayanarayana, continues to haunt the state Congress, another trouble is brewing. 

The simmering differences between Kiran Reddy and Union minister for science and technology S Jaipal Reddy took a new turn Sunday, when the latter chose to stay away from the launch of the second phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail Project at Uppal here. This, despite the fact that he was present in Hyderabad on the day.

According to some close aides of Jaipal Reddy, the reason for his absence was that Kiran Reddy did not extend a whole-hearted invitation to him. A senior Congress leader close to Jaipal Reddy said: “The Union minister was not formally invited to the programme by the chief minister. Only his name was printed on the invitation card and an invitation was sent through a lower-rung staff in the state government. The chief minister neither called Jaipal Reddy nor did he bother to write an invitation letter.”

According to sources, Jaipal Reddy was openly miffed at the chief minister’s attitude. He gave vent to his ire in front of some confidants on Sunday, saying that as the then minister for urban development, he had played a key role in approving the Metro Rail Project but Kiran Reddy had disregarded him. “The Centre had advised that all metro projects in future would be taken up only as central projects. However, I prevailed upon the Centre to resolve the issue,” Jaipal told his aides.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said he had not disregarded Jaipal Reddy. “In fact today  morning, I come directly from Tirupati and attended the launch. I was not aware of the issue that an invitation was not given to Jaipal Reddy. It is the duty of the officials of the concerned department to send invitations to ministers,” he said.

Deo’s letter missile forces Kiran, Botcha to close ranks

Union Minister denies he wrote letter to Sonia but rifts in Andhra Congress stand exposed.

Published: 25th November 2012 11:46 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th November 2012 11:46 AM  |

By J R Prasad

Normally, Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary should be a good occasion for Congress leaders to reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the party. But, they were in for an embarrassment in the state, when the rumblings in the Congress only became louder on the occasion.

It began with a controversy kicked off by a letter purportedly written by Union minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj V Kishore Chandra Suryanarayana Deo to the party high command allegedly against Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Botcha Satyanarayana and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

A section of media claimed that Deo had, in his purported letter, alleged that Botcha was a liquor mafia don and Kiran Reddy was an ineffective chief minister and hence he wanted the high command to replace both of them to save the party in the state.

However, Deo denied the reports that he had written a letter to the AICC leadership against the chief minister and the APCC chief. “I have not written any letter to the party high command in the past five months. Moreover, if I want to say something, I will say it openly. It is not in my habit to write secret letters,” said Kishore Deo. Asked about the differences between the chief minister and the APCC chief, Deo said the party’s situation in Andhra Pradesh was known to everybody.

Interestingly, APCC chief Botcha and Deo are from same Vizianagaram district in North Andhra region. Even though Deo has denied that he had written any letter, Botcha’s camp strongly believe that the Union minister complained against the chief minister and the APCC chief.

Botcha at first said that he did not think Deo would ever write such type of letters. later, while talking to some of his confidants  he alleged that Deo had leaked the letter to the media only to tarnish his and chief minister’s image.

According to the close aides of the APCC chief, Deo had written that letter one year ago. But, the minister now intentionally leaked the letter to the media only to embarrass Botcha and Kiran Reddy.

Meanwhile, Botcha, who claims to have helped Deo win from Araku in the 2009 general elections, is understood to be upset that Deo had no ‘gratitude’ for him. “Though he had been there for a long time, he was a nobody. In the last elections, I helped him win from Araku,” APCC chief reportedly said to his confidants.

The APCC president has mobilised support from north Andhra ministers Shatrucharla Vijayaramaraju and Ganta Srinivasa Rao who disapproved of the Union minister writing a letter to the party president against Botcha and Kiran Reddy.

It seems Deo’s letter to the Congress high command have not only helped Kiran Reddy and Botcha bury the hatchet but also made the two warring groups to launch a joint verbal attack on the Union minister.

Kiran Reddy’s confidant and Labour Minister Danam Nagender fired salvos at the Union minister. Talking to reporters, Nagender heaped choicest abuses on Deo. “As a Union minister Deo did nothing for the state. He has been confining himself to Delhi and not available to even people of his constituency. For his selfish ends he is trying to mislead the party high command,” he said.

Botcha and Deo have been at dagger’s drawn for several years. “Deo has been unhappy with the state government for seeking permissions from the Centre to take up bauxite mining in Vizianagaram district, which will affect the livelihood of tribal families there,” said a leader close to the APCC chief.

Even as rival parties are preparing to win the predicted early polls for Lok Sabha, the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh is yet unable to prevent infightings among its seniors.

- Sunday Standard

Rahul’s ‘spies’ on mission 2014 to snoop on Congress MPs

If Congress leaders are to be trusted, Rahul Gandhi, who is heading the Congress Election Coordination Committee, has already started ‘secret missions’ to select Lok Sabha candidates for the next General Election slated for 2014, or even before.

Published: 19th November 2012 08:42 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th November 2012 09:37 AM

By J R Prasad | ENS

If Congress leaders are to be trusted, Rahul Gandhi, who is heading the Congress Election Coordination Committee, has already started ‘secret missions’ to select Lok Sabha candidates for the next General Election slated for 2014, or even before.

He is following in the footsteps of his father Rajiv Gandhi and uncle Sanjay, giving Congress MPs a flashback of those same anxieties. Rajiv used to send his trusted lieutenants to various States to vet the personal and political resumes of prospective candidates. Even for Assembly elections in various States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajiv used to send secret observers to gather data on the performance of Congress candidates and ministers.

Earlier, for the 1980 Lok Sabha polls, Sanjay Gandhi had personally chosen about 25 per cent of young MPs such as Kamal Nath, Jagdish Tytler and Ramchandra Rath, who went on to play a vital role in Congress politics.

Rahul is following a trusted family tradition to choose the party’s representatives at the hustings. Nobody is exempt from the exercise, including Rahul himself and his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi; sources said Rahul’s “spies” will collect feedback on the performance of Congress MPs from Rae Bareli and Amethi too.

A source close to Rahul said it is natural for him to undertake such an exercise. “That is how he works. He always prefers to work with detailed reports from the ground. He has his own approach for which he gets independent inputs.”

AICC general secretary and Gujarat MP Madhusudan Mistry is in charge of this exercise. He has been nominated to the five-man Election Coordination Committee. Rahul, along with Mistry, has handpicked a 50-member team to individually assess the performance of party MPs in constituencies allotted to them.

Young MLAs and MLCs inducted into the team are designated ‘facilitators’. Their names are top secret, known only to PCC chiefs of the State assigned to each. The constituency allotted to each facilitator is also a secret—the incumbent MP, if not renominated, will never know who scuppered his chances. Apart from revi­ewing each MP’s accomplish­ments, the performance inspector will gather information on other ticket aspirants as well and suggest to the AICC three probables in order of priority.

In Lok Sabha constituencies represented by the Opp­osition, the facilitator is req­uired to prepare a list of pro­bable candidates, with ‘winnability’ as the main criterion. Each team member has been assigned 10 to 11 constituencies, depending on the size of the electorate.