Subba Rao has no supporters

Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao has become completely isolated in the IAS circles in the state. Though he earned a lot of reputation for successfully conducting the elections without any law and order problems and major complaints of irregularities, he could not get any support from his own comrades in the bureaucracy.

When Director General of Police S S P Yadav dashed off a series of letters to Subba Rao seeking an explanation why he was shifted from the post during the elections, not a single IAS officer came to the rescue of Subba Rao, though it amounted to questioning the authority of a constitutional body. On the other hand, a couple of IAS officers in the CMO are directly supporting Yadav and finding fault with Subba Rao.

Reason is simple: no officer wants to antagonise Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who is fully supporting the DGP. And since all of them want good postings, they can’t open their mouths now. How sad?

Babu, wife screened at airport

The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and his wife Ms Bhuvaneshwari, who returned from the United States in the early hours of Wednesday underwent swine flu screening tests at the Shamshabad airport. Sources said the tests on the couple proved negative.

Mr Naidu had gone to the US for a week on a personal visit. Meanwhile, two more air passengers — a 23-year old man from Kuwait and 25-year old woman from Dubai — were quarantined after they were found to have swine flu symptoms after screening tests at the city airport on Wednesday.

Sources at the hospital said two people who were under observation were discharged after their tests came out as negative on Wednesday. Dr Ch. Jayakumari, district medical and health officer, has warned against people taking drugs like Tamiflu and Oseltamivir to develop resistance against swine flu.

“Those taking it without advice may develop suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Jayakumari.

Meanwhile, the Central government Central Council of Homeopathy PG Committee chairman, Prof B. Sohan Singh, said swine flu can be prevented with a homeopathic medicine “Gelsemium-6”. In case of disease symptoms, like sneezing, headache, fever and throat pain, the patient just needs to take Gelsemium pill three times a day for two days.

Govt to take over Telangana Bhavan?

Can the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government take over the Telangana Bhavan, the headquarter of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi?

Well, the answer is yes, according to former minister and Tadipatri MLA J C Diwakar Reddy. In an informal chat with media persons on Wednesday, Diwakar Reddy said while allotting five acres of land to the TRS five years ago, the State Cabinet has put forth a condition that the government would have all the rights to take back the land and properties allotted to the TRS, if the party faces a split or disintegration.

“Going by the present situation, it appears that the TRS is heading for a split and the party is getting disintegrated. There is no Telangana talk now. So, if the government wants, it can take back the Telangana Bhavan,” Diwakar Reddy argued.

Why is Chiru so adamant?

Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi has made it clear once again that he would not go back to films, come what may.

Till the other day, he used to say that he might consider doing a film or two, depending on the role, which would not affect his political interests. But on Wednesday, he categorically declared that there was no question of doing any films, irrespective of roles.

Why is so adamant? After all, former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao did a couple of films even after losing power in 1989 and even danced with heroines; which later helped him come back to power. But Chiranjeevi decided against doing any films, either because the people might not watch his films anymore; or he does not want to entertain his fans, which did not help him come to power. “Or he might be of the view that the people might misunderstand him, thinking that he had come back to films after failing in politics,” party sources said.

'D' block holds the key to TRS turmoil

The epicentre for the entire crisis in the Telangana Rashtra Samithi is said to be in “D” block of Secretariat.

According to the TRS sources, the entire planning for a coup against TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao was done in the chamber of K V P Ramachandra Rao, advisor and friend of Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Sources said the TRS rebels had a prolonged meeting with former TRS leader and present Sangareddy MLA T Jayapraksah Reddy alias Jagga Reddy in the chambers of KVP on Sunday morning. While the rebels were assured of some good positions in the coming days, they were asked to engineer a split in the TRS.

Within a couple of hours, they held a meeting at press club and attacked KCR in the strongest words. A couple of journalists, who came to know about their meeting with Jagga Reddy, promptly carried the news to KCR and by evening, he sacked the rebels from the party. TRS floor leader in the Assembly E Rajender, who is loyal to the TRS president, said the rebel leaders have become pawns in the hands of those trying to defeat the Telangana movement.

Azhar to focus on Hyderabad

Former Indian cricket captain and Congress MP Mohd Azharuddin says he will not forget Hyderabad, though he got elected from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Azhar, who met Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in the evening, said he would do his best for the development of Hyderabad which has given him so much name and fame. “My priority is always for my home town,” he said.

Earlier, Azhar kept media persons waiting at the Taj Banjara Hotel, where he was supposed to address a press conference. However, the media persons were told later that Azhar had an engagement at some other place, after which he would have to fly back to Delhi.

Behind The Scene: This KCR is incorrigible!

The state executive committee meeting of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi went about on expected lines: all the party leaders “unanimously” endorsed the leadership of its president K Chandrasekhara Rao and wanted that he would continue to be their leader forever.

Well, that was the picture given to media persons outside. But what went on inside was said to be something different. The TRS president, who spoke for most of the time, virtually blackmailed the party leaders stating that if they do not accept his leadership, he would disband the party altogether. “I have certain plans to take the party forward. Those who do not accept my strategies can go out,” he said.

Apparently, KCR is confident that those who go out of the party would not have any future. Forget Telangana, these leaders have to have some political identity for the next five years. They would lose their credibility among the people, if they jump into other parties. So for good or bad, they have to be in the TRS, so that their political future would be secure. That’s KCR’s strategy!

YSR's aim: Get back old figure by next year

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s objective is to see that the Congress party would get the old figure of 186 members in the assembly by next year.

This was the talk going on in the Congress Legislature Party office on Monday. According to one Rayalaseema Congress leader, the Chief Minister wants, under any circumstances, that the Congress strength should go up from 157 to 186. It means, the party should get the support of another 29 members.

“It is a difficult task no doubt. But with a clever strategy, the Congress can split the opposition parties. At least three or four TRS MLAs, seven to eight PRP MLAs are willing to join the Congress. The rest have to come from the TDP and independents. We have to make all out efforts to split the parties,” a YSR loyalist said.

'Jayashankar, you are a pimp!'

Perhaps, never in his long career as administrator, academic and political advisor, could Prof K Jayashanar have experienced such a kind of attack.

Jayashankar, who attended the meeting of Telangana NRIs, came under severe attack form pro-Telangana activists, who abused him in filthy language for giving wrong advice to Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhara Rao. “Your only objective is to have a drink or two with KCR, but not Telangana. You hang around the TRS president to enjoy personal benefits and don’t have the guts to expose his misdeeds. You leave KCR only after ensuring that he goes to bed with the latest lady boss,” a Telangana leader alleged.

Stung at this strong criticism, Jayashankar said he always tried to give correct advice to KCR, but the latter would never listen. He, however, has no answer as to why he did not desert such a stubborn leader.

Telangana 'paruvu poyindi'

The ‘prestige’ of Telangana has gone down the drain on Monday, with Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders and cadres virtually resorting to street fights and filthy abuses.

Those who witnessed the high drama at Telangana Bhavan, where KCR loyalists assaulted former MP D Ravindra Naik as he tried to barge into the emergency state executive meeting convened by the TRS president, commented that the weakness of the Telangana movement was glaringly exposed. The way Ravindra Naik used foul language against KCR, calling him “mun….kodaka” (son of a bitch) showed that the bankruptcy of leadership in the party.

Naik, in the presence of the electronic media, rubbed his nose on the soil, stating that he had made a blunder by working under the leadership of a feudal like KCR. People wondered how the TRS could lead the Telangana movement further with such leaders!

In his first Assembly speech, Chiru tears YSR Govt apart

Praja Rajyam Party chief K Chiranjeevi said on Wednesday that people in Andhra Pradesh were crying for even basic needs like drinking water, while the Congress Government was making tall claims about its achievements.

"What is the use of achieving a nine per cent growth rate when people are left with parched throats? Be it the tribal areas in Adilabad district or the fertile Godavari districts, or fluoride-affected Nalgonda, lakhs of people still do not have access to safe drinking water," Chiranjeevi said in his maiden address in the state Assembly.

The Telugu megastar, a first-time MLA, vented his anguish rather than anger over what he said sorry state of affairs and pathetic living conditions, during discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address.

In his 45-minute speech, Chiranjeevi mocked at the government's claim of registering an annual six per cent growth in the agriculture sector.

"If that is true, why have 7,500 farmers committed suicide in the last five years. Even today, farmers are suffering as they are unable to get even the minimum support price on their produce," the PRP leader said.

Government schools were being shut down on the pretext of low enrolment, he said. "We have to explore the reasons for poor enrolment. Children are unable to get access to good education and are ending up as child labour."

Stating that irrigation projects were required for the development of the state, Chiranjeevi said government should prioritise the schemes instead of taking up all in one go.

As per the current estimates, a staggering Rs two lakh crore will be required to complete the 81 irrigation projects taken up by the government. Where will the money come from and how many decades will it take to complete them? asked Chiranjeevi.

The actor-turned-politician said the government could create an additional "ayacut" of only 19 lakh acres in the past five years despite the promise of creating an extra irrigation potential of one crore acres.

The area served by an irrigation project such as a canal, dam or tank is called ayacut. There was no industrial development worth the name in Andhra Pradesh in the last five years even as neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu made rapid strides, he said.

"We have got many special economic zones sanctioned but not a single major industry has come up in the state so far. The SEZs are in fact turning into realty zones."

On Telangana, Chiranjeevi said, "Commitment is important, not the number of committees you have constituted on the issue."

Summing up, the PRP chief promised full support to good programmes initiated by the government. "We don't mind sitting in the Opposition if you do good to the people and the state. Otherwise, people will show you your place."

Moddu Sinu killer 'serious'

Remember Om Prakash, the killer of Moddu Srinu who in turned murdered Telugu Desam MLA Paritala Ravi?

The petty thief, who smashed the head of Moddu Srinu with a dumbbell within the jail barracks in the most suspicious circumstances, is also in a critical situation. His both the kidneys are in a damaged condition and on Wednesday, he was shifted to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad.

It was expected that Omprakash would meet the same fate of Moddu Srinu, since those who planned the murder of Paritala would eliminate witnesses one after the other. Moddu Srinu was killed within days of he declaring that he would turn approver. So, it is all part of Rayalaseema game!

Ramoji Rao's Right Hand Jumped To Vanitha TV

There was a time when the other name for media was Ramoji Rao and he was also known as the media baron of Andhra Pradesh. However, it appears that those days of glory seems to have passed now and Ramoji is slowly but steadily losing his grip.

As per reliable sources, there is news that Raghu who is deemed as the right arm for Ramoji Rao in the ETV 2 channel and holds a position next to Ramoji has now quit. It is heard that Raghu has joined the Vanitha TV channel on the 8th of this month.

Sources close to Raghu say that it was insecurity in ETV and a better offer that got him to Vanitha channel made him take that decision. The channel is part of NTV and is owned by one Narendra Choudhary who happens to be a strong Congress sympathizer. Wonder what Ramoji will do to conserve his power now. Are more jump outs in line for him in near future? We have to see.

Naidu surrounded by 'thotti gang' and buffoons

Within a month of facing a debacle in the general elections, the Telugu Desam Party is feeling the heat from within. While it was only a couple of days ago that former Chief Whip and senior leader Gadde Babu Rao resigned from the TDP, stating that there was no point in continuing in the party which had lost people’s support, it was the turn of former minister and TDP senior MLA from Kovur constituency in Nellore district Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy to raise the banner of revolt against party president N Chandrababu Naidu.

In an open letter to Naidu, Prasanna Kumar Reddy criticised the stand taken by the party leadership in opposing Congress nominee N Kiran Kumar Reddy as the Speaker of the Assembly. The party’s image had taken a severe beating with such wrong decisions, he said.

“You should have consulted senior leaders of the party before taking decisions on such important issues. But, you are surrounded by a bunch of buffoons and thotti gang. It is unfortunate that you always go by their advice and take wrong steps,” Prasanna Kumar said in the letter. He pointed out that if the TDP could get a good number of seats in the recent elections, the credit would go to Jr NTR and Nandamuri Balakrishna, grandson and son of former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao respectively, who campaigned extensively for the party

Ganga-Nannapaneni 'bahen-bahen'

The Legislative Council premises has witnessed a rare scene on Tuesday. Mahila Congress president Ganga Bhavani and Telugu Desam Party official spokesperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari, both known arch rivals in the Legislative Council, displayed their “sisterly” affection towards each other, of couse, all in the presence of media.

The initiative, however, was taken by Ganga Bhavani. She brought sweets to the council on the first day and was distributing them to all the party leaders. There, she came across Nannapaneni. Noticing the presence of electronic media there, Ganga called “akka” and came to her. She pulled Nannapaneni before cameras and offered a sweet to her mouth.

A smiling Nannapaneni was forced to offer sweet to Ganga Bhavani, too. Both posed for photographs for some time, even as other leaders were laughing to their heart content.

Hope at least now, Ganga and Nannapaneni exchange sweet words, rather than “pachchi boothulu.”

Vishnu following Rahul formula

Jubilee Hills MLA P Vishnuvardhan Reddy is attracting everybody in the assembly lobbies by wearing short-length shirts and jeans trousers.

Asked why he has preferred to wear such a dress, rather than khadi clothes in the assembly, Vishnu said he was simply following the Rahul Gandhi formula. “Our leader, Rahul, has advised the young politicians to wear young dresses, so as to appeal to voters. If we go with khaddar attire, they may not come forward to tell their problems. We have to identify ourselves with the younger generation,” he said.

Chiru's first negative talk on YSR govt

Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi, for the first time, made a negative comment against Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government on Monday.

He was reacting to the Governor’s address to the joint session of Assembly and Legislative Council, Chiranjeevi. But the reaction was not as aggressive as that of other opposition leaders, including that of Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan. It was in fact mild andpolished.

Chiranjeevi said the Governor’s address was beautifully packaged, but it lacked reference to important issues of public concern. The Governor had only harped on the achievements in the last four years, but it had failed to spell out what the government would do to solve the basic needs of the people in the coming days, he said.

YSR begins to show his skills

The TDP MLA’s open letter created ripples in the party circles. According to party leaders close to Naidu, this could be the first attempt by Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to create a rift in the TDP, thereby engineering a split in the party in the coming days.

Senior leader P Ashok Gajapathi Raju reacted strongly to Prasanna Kumar’s letter, demanding that the MLA should reveal the names of “buffoons and riff-raff gang members,” he said.

Incidentally, Prasanna Kumar Reddy is the son of late Nallapureddy Srinivasulu Reddy, one of the founder-members of the TDP along with NTR. He later differed with NTR and defected to the Congress.

Is T-Bhavan KCR's own property?

A debate is going on in political circles following the reports that rebel Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders might lay siege to Telangana Bhavan, the party’s headquarters at Banjara Hills.

On Sunday, TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao’s follower Yennam Srinivasa Reddy, who unsuccessfully contested for MLC seat and also tried for Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha seat, staged a revolt against the boss. He addressed a press conference right in Telangana Bhavan and demanded that KCR resigned from the party president’s post and vacate the Telangana Bhavan. The police also made huge bandobust at the Bhavan, following a complaint from KCR’s loyalists.

Inquiries revealed that had foreseen the situation long ago and ensured that the building was registered in his name, rather than in the name of the party. Perhaps, he might have sensed that there would be split in the TRS one day and there was a possibility of revolt against him for betraying the Telangana cause. So, he took that care.