AP New Cm
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is the chief executive of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. As per the Constitution of India, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.[1] Andhra Pradesh was created in 1956 by the merger of the Telangana region of Hyderabad State into Andhra State. Two chief ministers each from the Indian National Congress party had served these predecessor states. The first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh was Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, later the sixth President of India. Including him, 13 out of 17 chief ministers belonged to the Congress party. Among these P. V. Narasimha Rao, who went on to become the ninth Prime Minister of India. Three chief ministers were from the Telugu Desam Party, including N. Chandrababu Naidu the longest-serving Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (over eleven years). Naidu also served as the chief minister after Telangana was officially carved out of Andhra Pradesh into a separate state. Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party was sworn in as the chief minister after the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.[2]
"Ready To Quit," Says HD Kumaraswamy, Betraying Coalition Chaos
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy today threatened to quit as he reacted furiously to questions on lawmakers of alliance partner Congress lawmakers criticising him and saying they considered former chief minister Siddaramaiah as their chief minister. The Congress must control its lawmakers as they are "crossing the alliance line", Mr Kumaraswamy fumed. "If they want to continue with the same thing, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line," Mr Kumaraswamy told reporters, not hiding his exasperation. On Sunday, two Congress lawmakers had launched an all-out, public critique of the Chief Minister and charged that no development had taken place in the seven months on Mr Kumaraswamy's watch. Congress legislator ST Somashekar went as far as to say that there would have been "real development" if Mr Siddaramaiah had got another term. Another Congress leader, minister C Puttarangashetty, said, "Only Siddaramaiah is my chief minister". Mr Kumaraswamy, asked to respond to the provocative remarks, said: "Congress leaders have to watch out for all these issues. Congress leaders must think about all these things and control them... They are crossing the alliance's line. This is not going to affect me but Congress leaders only." Siddaramaiah was chief minister until May last year, when the Congress and Janata Dal Secular formed a coalition to keep the BJP out of power after a fractured verdict in the Karnataka election. He was present when the Congress leaders made the comments and seemed to agree as he said he would have completed development work if he had another term. Today, Mr Siddaramaiah, who now heads a coalition coordination committee, said: "You (media) are the people who create trouble. You ask one person, then second person and then third person. There is no trouble, I will speak to HD Kumaraswamy." Mr Siddaramaiah has been bitterly opposed to the Janata Dal Secular leadership since he quit the party in 2006 and joined the Congress over the sudden rise of Mr Kumaraswamy, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's son. The Chief Minister may not be too happy also at the words of his own deputy, G Parameswara of the Congress. "Siddaramaiah has been the best Chief Minister. He is our Congress Legislature Party leader. For the MLAs, he (Siddaramaiah) is the chief minister. He has expressed his opinion. What is wrong in that? We are all happy with him (Mr Kumaraswamy)," Mr Parameswara said. The Congress's Karnataka president said the lawmakers had committed a self-goal. "Development is taking place. Kumaraswamy is our chief minister. What Somashekhar said is not acceptable. He will have to explain or face action," said Dinesh Gundu Rao. The Chief Minister's outburst follows days of turmoil within the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress alliance, which has repeatedly expressed the fear of their lawmakers crossing over to the BJP and the coalition collapsing just months before the national election due by May. In an attempt to stanch rebellion, the Congress checked its lawmakers into a resort near Bengaluru. The ruling coalition accused the BJP of attempting a coup by luring Congress lawmakers. The BJP insisted that the coalition was trying to mask its own instability and insecurity by accusing it. The party's BS Yeddyurappa, also a former chief minister, sequestered all BJP lawmakers at a resort near Delhi. "Siddaramaiah and his supporters in the party are training guns at HD Kumaraswamy. There is intense war going on between Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy. To hide this from public glare, they are indulging in some drama of MLAs being wooed by BJP. The fact is this coalition is internally unstable," said the BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao.
NTR's Grandson, Whose Mother Is With BJP, All Set To Join Jagan Reddy's Party
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's brother-in-law Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and his son met YSR Congress President YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday and expressed their wish to join the opposition party. Mr Rao hasn't been active in politics since 2014. Former Congress leader Venkateswara Rao, whose wife D Purandeswari is with the BJP, met the YSR Congress chief at his Lotus Pond home in Hyderabad. Mr Rao's son Hitesh Chenchuram wants to contest the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections due in a few months on a YSR Congress ticket. Venkateswara Rao, the eldest son-in-law of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, told reporters they had a discussion with the YSR Congress leader and an announcement would soon be made in this regard. When asked if Hitesh Chenchuram wants to contest the Parchur seat, Mr Rao said, "It will be the party's decision and my son will abide by whatever the party says." Mr Rao, however, said that Purandeswari isn't planning to switch sides and will continue with the BJP. "She will either be with the party or retire from politics. That is her decision," he said. Purandeswari was a Union minister in the Manmohan Singh cabinet. But she quit the Congress to join the BJP after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The induction of Venkateswara Rao, known to be an arch rival of Chandrababu Naidu, and his son into the YSR Congress would be significant for the party ahead of the simultaneous polls to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the Lok Sabha. Jaganmohan Reddy is the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. While he is fighting to defeat Chandrababu Naidu, one of NTR's sons-in-law, another son-in-law Daggubati Venkateshwar Rao wants to work with him. Venkateswara Rao had joined the TDP soon after actor-turned-politician NTR had floated it in 1983. The same year he was elected to the state Assembly and was re-elected in 1985. He also served as a minister in NTR's Cabinet. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bapatla constituency. In 1995, a few months after the TDP returned to power in Andhra Pradesh, Venkateswara Rao sided with Chandrababu Naidu in the revolt against NTR, but returned to the latter's camp a few weeks later when Mr Naidu reportedly sidelined him. After NTR's death in 1996, he along with NTR's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi founded a new party - the NTR TDP. But the party failed to make any impact in state politics. In 1999, he joined hands with NTR's son Harikrishna to launch a new party called Anna TDP. This attempt also proved to be a disaster. In 2004, he along with Purandeswari joined the Congress. He was elected to the Assembly from Parchur while Purandeswari was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bapatla. She became a minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan certain to win Andhra Assembly elections
GUNTUR: Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan said he was confident that Jana Sena will win the coming elections and thundered that the party flag will be flown in Amaravati. He also announced two party candidates to contest from Guntur district on Sunday. Former United AP Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar will contest from Tenali and Thota Chandrasekhar from Guntur, he said. Kalyan addressing a Samarasanka meeting here after inaugurating the district party office. Kalyan said he was confident Jana Sena will win in the coming elections and expressed confidence that the party flag will be flown in Amaravati. He affirmed that he will not sleep till dividing of UP in to four state. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu once in six months raised his voice for special category status (SCS) for the State and makes contrasting statements each time. He alleged that YSRC president Jagan Mohan Reddy did not respond to the call given by former MP Undavalli Arun Kumar, but everyone should stand united for the demand of SCS for AP. The Jana Sena chief said though he spoke with Telangana Chief Minister KCR, “I cannot imagine to surrender my self-respect to anybody”.
BJP Legislator From Andhra Pradesh Resigns And Join Jana Sena Party
Amravati: BJP legislator from Rajahmundry-Urban, Akula Satyanarayana, confirmed his resignation from the party and the assembly's membership to join the Jana Sena Party of Pawan Kalyan on Sunday. Mr Akula said he has sent his resignation to the state BJP unit president Kanna Lakshminarayana. He told news agency ANI that he will be giving the letter of resignation from the membership of Assembly to the State Assembly Speaker personally on Monday in Amaravati. "I could not send the resignation to the Speaker as Sunday is off," he added. Mr Akula said he prepared the letter of resignation in the prescribed one-liner format.
AP Minister Devineni Uma comments on KTR, YS Jagan meeting
AP Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao reacted with strong comments on KTR and YS Jagan's meeting. He said that KCR's front is not the federal front, but it's Modi's front. Andhra people will not forget the allegations made by KCR on them at the time of Telangana movement. YS Jagan is shameless to meet KCR. He remembered KCR comments, that Andhra people are the tenants in Hyderabad, AP Brahmin's don't even know how to chant mantras, and KCR called Telugu Talli as the devil, he recalled. With the hatred feelings towards CM Chandrababu Naidu, KCR is commencing these type of indecent politics, Devineni said, On Wednesday, TRS working President KT Rama Rao went to meet YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the lotus pound residency in Hyderabad to discuss of the federal front.
KTR Meets Jagan Mohan Reddy Regarding Federal Front
HYDERABAD: In the middle of "gatbandhan" politics as parties prepare for the national election, Andhra Pradesh leader Jaganmohan Reddy's meeting with Telangana's ruling TRS today has drawn attention. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao or KCR's son KT Rama Rao (aka KTR) met Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad to invite his YSR Congress party to join a non-BJP, non-Congress Federal Front. Jaganmohan Reddy is the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. This is the first direct talks between the leaders of two parties since KCR floated the idea of a front as an alternative to both the ruling BJP and the Congress. KCR, the chief of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, has already held talks with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Janata Dal (United) leader and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and DMK leader MK Stalin. After taking over as the chief minister for a second straight term after his party's election victory in last month's elections, KCR has amped up his efforts towards a Federal Front for the national polls due by May. The TRS is also likely to discuss with Jagan the possibility of working together in Andhra Pradesh to defeat a common enemy - Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Jagan, who recently completed a 3,650-km foot march in Andhra Pradesh, told NDTV that he looks upon KCR and his party as "great friends" of Andhra Pradesh. KCR had last month talked about "returning the gift" after the Andhra chief minister campaigned extensively for the elections in neighbouring Telangana. The Congress-Naidu alliance failed to make an impact in Telangana and KCR was re-elected after his party won 88 seats in the 119-memer assembly. The Congress won 19 seats.
SP-BSP to announce alliance in joint presser today
Less than 24 hours before he is slated to address a joint press conference with BSP chief Mayawati in what can be termed the biggest political alliance of the decade, Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister in an exclusive interview to India Today TV said: "The SP and the BSP always had the arithmetic in favour of their alliance but in the coming polls the chemistry between the leaders and the voters will wipe out the BJP in UP." Akhilesh, who was voted out in the 2017 Assembly polls to witness the rise of Yogi Adityanath, rejected BJP chief Amit Shah's barb that the SP-BSP alliance was a result of fear of the BJP. "This is not an alliance due to fear of anyone or any compulsion. It's an alliance to bring the poor who are feeling cheated closer to power. And we have learnt the art of alliance from PM Modi and BJP. They tied up with many parties and prominent leaders to win." In a candid comment, Akhilesh admitted that in modern politics voters don't get attracted due to development work done by a government. "I had built the best highway, gave away 19 lakh laptops, brought metro to UP. But Modi showed that making people understand doesn't get votes. Voters Ko behkana Hota hai (voters need to be misled)." Launching a bitter attack on Modi, Yadav said: "From demonetisation to every other step, the poor have been betrayed. The alliance is to bring a government for the poor, not to dethrone anyone. The announcement of alliance is going to happen and we will express our views in front of the media. Farmers have not been given any benefit under his (Modi) government. Lohia and Ambedkar wanted to work together. The majority in this country is unhappy with this government." Elaborating on the alliance, Akhilesh indicated that there are no ideological differences beteen the two parties and both are keen to work together. To ensure that no competitiveness creeps in, he plans to address joint rallies with the BSP chief. Clearing the air of any alliance with Congress, Akhilesh said tomorrow's announcement will only be about an alliance between SP and BSP. When asked whether Congress would be part of the grand alliance, he said "there has been no discussion with the Congress". "The effort must be made to defeat the BJP. We will not put up any candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareilly," he added. Akhilesh said a seat sharing formula may not be announced. Speaking about the recent charges in a mining case against him, the SP chief said that the CBI probe against him was done deliberately and at the behest of the BJP. "I am used to it. The Congress did the same to me. I am ready to appear for any questioning and open to any scrutiny."
'NTR Kathanayakudu' review
NTR Kathanayakudu is a mixed bag, depending on which kaleidoscope you choose to watch the movie through. As a documentation of a great man's life, someone adored and revered, the movie ticks a lot of boxes. As a pure cinematic experience, the movie doesn't quite wrench your heart and neither does it have the goosebumps-evoking drama that anyone who has read or heard about NTR's life would come to expect. It feels like director Krish was equally conflicted - to show the man who would become god, or to show the god who was at one point, just a common man? The movie begins with NTR (Balakrishna) resigning from the Sub-Registrar office, tired of the corruption. His wife Basavatarakam (Vidya Balan) is adoringly encouraging when he wants to leave for Madras, to take up an invitation he had received from LV Prasad (Jisshu Sengupta is a scene-stealer), who mentors him to an extent. His first offer is from Subbarao. But neither HM Reddy nor Subbarao manage to keep their original word, due to bad finances, leading him to leave Madras in a fit, only for his good-samaritan attitude to stop him from boarding the train in a stroke of luck. Nevertheless, what stands out is his discipline and sense of self-esteem, qualities that make him the celestial figure he became eventually. He gets a brilliant offer from Nagi Reddy and lands a role as Thota Ramudu in Pataala Bhairavi, largely because of KV Reddy's obdurate belief in him. And the first real superstar in Telugu cinema is born or in GV Reddy's words, "the real first superstar on an Indian screen is born". NTR Kathanayakudu, the movie, blends two interesting dimensions of his charismatic persona - his love for cinema exceeded only by his love for the people, without discrimination. The movie highlights his role in collecting funds for the Rayalaseema famine. His passion and self-respect see him script a victorious path as an employee of Vijaya Vahini Studios. Much to Chakrapani and Nagi Reddy's chagrin, NTR bags the role of Krishna, probably the high point of the movie, introducing audiences to the times when NTR was viewed as an avatar himself. The movie also exults in Rama Rao's role in bringing alive the story of Ravana in Bhookailash (he had to stand unmoving for 20 hours so the ten heads could appear one by one on screen, a first of sorts for Indian cinema). NTR's professionalism shines through when he finishes a shooting (an unflinching attitude of taking everyone along and putting others first) despite the news of the loss of his son. The second half sows seeds for highlighting NTR, the national leader. It also picks up pace and builds several layers into the story. There is NTR, putting his fans and movies ahead of his life, during the Emergency, carrying his own movie prints to the distributors during curfew. There is the great NTR-ANR bromance, Sumanth doing really well to bring the camaraderie alive, especially the initiative of NTR ANR fund for cyclone relief, and the stern pride-driven decision to make Hyderabad the new home to Telugu cinema. There is NTR, the visionary who creates Dana Veera Soora Karna, playing three roles, while producing and directing the movie (as an answer to the challenge posed by younger stars like Krishna). There is a constant side-track, the bond between NTR and his younger brother, and producer for a lot of his movies, Trivikrama Rao. It also introduces the domestic dissatisfaction in NTR's family for Yamagola, for acting with a much younger woman actor. There is Harikrishna (Kalyan Ram) who pretty much follows NTR like a shadow. There are two ways of looking at the movie. One can't help but get nostalgic as the narrative gives a hat-tip, one by one, to the greats of Telugu cinema. From the long collars, aviators and bell-bottoms to hit movie references, the film gives NTR fans a walk down the memory lane. Balakrishna's uncanny resemblance in several shots, especially as the older NTR contemplating his entry into politics, not to mention in several roles like in Bobbili Puli and Vetagadu, makes the second half exhilarating. However, though he fits the bill perfectly in the latter half of the movie where NTR has matured as a statesman and has become a leader of the masses, for a fan, it is hard to really enjoy the early NTR film-career as enacted by Balakrishna. This, despite the obvious effort that has gone into it. It would have helped if the soundtrack had given us a little more than a layer of cottoned elevation hidden behind - like everything else - the intention to show how a mortal became a demigod. Comparisons to another biopic, Mahanati are obvious, given the music that the earlier movie had delivered, tracks which stayed with us for a long time. The other aspect of the movie is the way it develops the perception of the actual NTR people remember, a leader cherished by the masses, a leader who was made God by the masses and who was willing to turn into a mere mortal again to enter into the dirty world of politics. Chandrababu Naidu (Rana) and YSR also get mentions. The movie ends at the inception of the Telugu Desam Party. Krish does a great job in picking the right moments in the life of a demigod. A soft touch with Savitri's scene, a humane touch with an old lady, a feminist touch with the way he encouraged women, a thought for the foundation of various schemes he later envisaged - the makers have ensured that NTR is shown in an otherworldly aura. Vidya Balan is understated but brilliant, and so are actors who play important roles in his life, e.g. his brother's. While the movie does a fair job, and emotional moments are aplenty, one wonders if this is the best way in which the great NTR could be portrayed. The documentation was perfect but one can be sure there was a lot more about the man than the legendary tales we have already heard about him. It is also very noticeable that the movie is an altruistic vision - barring the Emergency and the comments about all south Indians being Madrasis (not to mention the strong anti-Congress stand), the movie rarely treads away from being politically correct. Where NTR Kathanayakudu scores is in upholding what many lovers of nostalgia would expect from the movie - reel conversations, idiosyncrasies of greats like Chakrapani and GV Reddy, old sets, a lot of trivia. Unlike in Mahanati, NTR doesn't start with how the actor was created. He was already fully-made! The director's constraints while making a movie on a figure like NTR with his own son playing the lead, and with even the politics and history of the state at stake, are obvious. These aren't exactly shortcomings but they stop the movie from developing a flair like Mahanati had. One needs to laud the art-direction/make-up/costumes for reproducing the period of NTR's stardom beautifully though. For true-blue NTR fans, the first part of this biopic is still a treat, and builds up nicely into Mahanayakudu, which would probably move on from the reel to real, a socio-political thriller. Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
340-Day Footmarch Takes Jagan Mohan Reddy Closer To KCR
The route to the Chief Minister's chair in Andhra Pradesh appears to lie through the dust and sand of village roads, by way of a foot march. Former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy did it in 2004, Chandrababu Naidu, a decade later, in 2014. Now YSR's son, Jaganmohan Reddy is out to make a record, covering 3,650 km in over a year - the longest footmarch undertaken by any political leader in the country. Assembly elections are due in the state in about four months. The jury is out on whether it would catapult him to the Chief Minister's chair. But Mr Reddy believes he is now in a better position than in 2014, when his YSR Congress party was up against a grand alliance of Telugu Desam, the BJP and regional party Jana Sena. The YSR Congress lost, but its voteshare was hardly 2 per cent less than the winner. And now, Mr Naidu's Telugu Desam Party has parted ways with the BJP and the Jana Sena. When Mr Reddy started the Praja Sankalpa Yatra in November 2017, he was rattled by the defection of 21 of his lawmakers, how had shifted to the TDP. Mr Naidu had given ministerial berths to four of them. Mr Reddy has come to an understanding with Mr Naidu's arch-rival- Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. He has told people that he and Mr Rao would get together to bring special category status for Andhra Pradesh and for that, they are ready to support anyone. "We don't trust any of the national parties or Naidu... they all cheated Andhra Pradesh. Whoever signs on dotted line for special category status, we will support. That is why we need to get 25 MP seats here and 17 from Telangana will support us, and we can emerge as a formidable force." Several cars bringing up the rear in the foot march carry stickers on their rear window that say, "Ninnu nammam Babu" meaning "We won't trust you Chandrababu". That was a line used multiple times by Mr Reddy in his public meetings after each day's walk. Relating stories about failed promises, like loan waivers or unemployment dole or job for all or fee reimbursement, he would conclude, "Now people are saying "Ninnu nammam Babu". In 2014, voters often said they had voted for Mr Naidu instead of Mr Reddy, since he had experience and would deliver on any aspirations of a newly carved state. Mr Reddy tries to drive home a claim that he has not delivered. Today, at the end of 340 days of March Mr Reddy unveiled a pylon and held a massive public meeting. The challenge, however, would be to keep up the momentum till elections in April. Mr Reddy also mocked Mr Naidu's attempt to play a role in national politics, saying he tours all over the country but doesn't address people's problems in the state. "Naidu goes to have coffee with Kumaraswamy but won't find time for Anantpur farmers. Naidu goes to Chennai and has idli-sambar with Stalin. Goes to Mamata and has chicken, but doesn't solve people's problems," he said. 15 COMMENTS Mr Reddy's next stop is Tirumala, where he will trek uphill for a darshan of lord Balaji as thanksgiving for a successful padyatra.
KCR’s return gift: MIM to campaign in AP to support Jagan
Clarity on KCR’s controversial ‘return gift’ is slowly emerging. MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi is expected to come to AP and take part in electioneering to mobilise support from muslim minorities for Jaganmohan Reddy. This is part of the return gift that was sarcastically announced by KCR after the resounding victory in Telangana polls last December, say the YSR Congress Party leaders. But TDP has already captured muslim groups all over AP by projecting its anti-BJP stand and policies. Moreover, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has effectively carried forward the message into minorities that KCR was a secret ally to both MIM and BJP which is something unthinkable in today’s politics. MIM is usually dead against BJP and its friends but in Telangana MIM leaders are in the trap of KCR who is fulfilling all their requests locally. With regard to AP, YCP leaders are saying Asaduddin Owaisi will canvass for Jagan in coming election just like how he did for KCR in December polls there in Telangana. This has almost become a sort of sentiment for YCP leaders who feel Asaduddin coming here will bring success just like how it made KCR CM once again. Owaisi had openly gone round and appealed to muslim minorities to vote for KCR. But analysts say similar appeals by MIM in AP would not work here since TDP has already made a strong impact among muslim minorities here.
Jagan Interview With TV9
With elections approaching fast, political equations are changing fast and political climate in the state is charged. Jagan gave an interview to TV9 today. Usually Jagan rarely gives such elaborate interviews to the channels other than his own Sakshi TV. So people were curious to see how he will handle this interview. Moreover, in recent times people are lambasting TV9 for being too much biased for ruling TDP party and so Jagan’s interview in this channel curiously watched by many. Here’s the gist of the interview On CBN – 6 lakh crore corruption and he may go to Jail: As always, Jagan started the interview with fuming at Chandra Babu Naidu. He sarcastically told, CBN is releasing one new movie every day. One day he releases a movie explaining how great the upcoming capital would be, and the other day, he releases another movie in which he says he is not aware of pensions not being released to the people and he says he will release all of them immediately, Jagan added, but again, it will be just a movie and no concrete action would be taken by TDP government on any of the issues. While concluding the interview, he made even serious comments on CBN and told CBN did 6 lakh crores worth of corruption in the last 4 years. He explained how his own Heritege company bought 14 acres of land at capital city before announcing location of capital and told, this is nothing but insider trading. He added, if he comes into power, his government will definitely look into all CBN’s corruption and courts will decide whether CBN will have to go to Jail or not. On being pro-BJP : When asked about being soft on BJP and supporting BJP on various issues, Jagan reminded that during demonetization it was only he and his party opposed BJP’s move while CBN supported demonetization and in fact CBN was the chairman of the committee for implementing demonetization. He also reminded that during GST also, none criticized except YSRCP. He also reminded that TDP leader Yanamala was the member of the committee on GST implementation. When asked about YSRCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy meeting PM Modi, he told in the span of 4 years, as MP he met PM only couple of times and any MP would get a chance to meet PM. But, he added, media projected this meetings in a wrong way. He concluded, YSRCP doesn’t have anything to do with BJP. On Special Category status: When asked about how he would achieve SCS without support of a national party, he told if people give 25 MP seats for YSRCP, he will support any party that grants Special category status to the state without bothering which party is that and who will be the PM. On KCR and his return gift: When asked about not contesting in Telangana elections, he answered frankly that his party is not strong in Telangana. He admitted that he never focused on Telangana politics and he never addressed any issues related to Telangana people in the last 4 years. Now how can I go and ask Telangana people to vote for my party, he questioned. He also told that if his party contested in Telangana, Uttam Kumar Reddy also might have lost the elections as his Party candidate is strong in that constituency. He added that his party will definitely contest in next assembly election in Telangana , as by that time , anti-incumbency on KCR might be ripened. When asked about his relations with TRS and KCR, he told he never met KCR and only once he called KCR, that too to congratulate him after 2018 election result. But he appreciated KCR for supporting special category status to Andhra Pradesh. He also appreciated TRS MP Kavitha for supporting special category status to Andhra Pradesh in the parliament. On dictatorial style of working: When asked about his dictatorial style of working, he answered frankly and told that , in regional parties, people vote based on the leader of the party. He added, only critics of our party do these kind of allegations and no fan of our party ever did these kind of comments. He also appealed people to vote considering his leadership rather than the local MLA candidates. On Pawan Kalyan factor: When asked about the influence of Pawan Kalyan in 2019 elections and probable triangular fight in the election, Jagan reminded that Chandrababu Naidu told during Telangana elections that Telangana Janasena supported TDP ( but actually it was a blooper from Chandrababu Naidu who got confused kodandaram Telangana Jana samithi with Telangana janasena). He added, recently also CBN invited Pawan to join hands with him. Jagan told, he never spoke to Pawan personally. Jagan put forward a theory that, if Pawan goes without any alliance with TDP, it will only dent TDP’s vote bank as all fans of Pawan Kalyan supported TDP in 2014 and so, there is no impact on YSRCP. On the other hand, if they go with alliance, YSRCP will be the sole claimant for all anti-incumbency votes and it will actually help YSRCP, Jagan added. So whether Janasena contests alone or allies with TDP, YSRCP will be winner in either case, explained Jagan. On Vizag attack: When asked about the attack on him in Vizag airport, Jagan responded that, VIP lounges in airports are supposed to be most secured places, but the attack happened on him in such a secured place. He told, Harshavardhan chowdary, owner of the restaurant in which assailant Srinivasa rao worked, is strong sympathizer and he was even TDP ticket aspirant in 2014. So definitely there must be a conspiracy, Jagan added. Overall: Overall Jagan interview was candid and to the point but there was nothing new in this interview. Those who follow Jagan interviews in Sakshi or his speeches during padayatra can see most of the points been repeated in this interview. But nonetheless, this interview helps Jagan reach out to neutral people, who don’t watch Jagan’s Sakshi regularly.
Andhra Pradesh govt to distribute Swift Dzire cars among unemployed brahmin youth
head of elections, the Telugu Desam Party-led government in Andhra Pradesh is showering sops in the state. Apart from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's plan to distribute smart phones, the government will also distribute Swift Dzire cars among unemployed brahmin youth. Naidu had earlier said the state required to distribute 14 million smart phones for ease of living. The chief minister will distribute 30 Swift Dzire cars among unemployed brahmin youth on Friday at his camp office in Amravati. The distribution is being done under a self employment programme. The Brahmin Welfare Corporation will provide a maximum of Rs 2 lakh as subsidy and the beneficiary has to bear 10 per cent of the cost of the vehicle and the remaining amount will be provided by the Andhra Pradesh Brahmin Cooperative Credit Society as a repayable loan in monthly instalments. The corporation sanctioned 50 cars in the first phase. Corporation chairman Vemuri Anand Surya has said that so far around 1.5 lakh persons have been benefited by the Brahmin corporation.
No clarity on Cabinet expansion For Telangana
Chief Minister keeps everyone guessing on when and how many The aspirants for Cabinet posts are clueless about the timing of the expansion of his Cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao though he has declared that he would induct six to eight of them in first instance by December end and complete the full quota of 18 later. One assessment that is widely discussed in TRS circles is that the first batch of ministers would either be sworn in before January 4 or, in the alternative, it will only be after Sankranti because the interim period was not auspicious. The second batch of almost the same number of ministers would join only after Parliament elections. Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali was sworn in along with Mr. Rao, marking the installation of the TRS government for second term. Sources said the expansion of Cabinet in the second essay was linked to Parliament elections as it was speculated that the Chief Minister might contest polls from Nalgonda to hand over the baton to his son K.T. Rama Rao and play a role in national politics. No cabinet post It was also speculated that Mr. Rama Rao who was recently appointed working president of TRS might not even be inducted into the Cabinet, reserving his place at the helm of the government straight away after Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao’s election to Parliament. In the event of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao contesting from Nalgonda, the sitting MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy was likely to be made a Minister and the latter’s post as Chairman of State-level Farmers Coordination Committee, which was of the rank of Cabinet Minister handed over to a former minister in Congress government Ch. Mutyam Reddy who was already given such an assurance when he joined the TRS just before the December 7 elections. On the other hand, Mr. K.T. Rama Rao spent a full day in the TRS office here on Thursday as working president for the first time since his appointment. KTR in party role He will also be available in the office on Friday when he will hold a meeting of the 20 general secretaries of party to discuss various programmes. A few aspirants of place in Cabinet like Mr. Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Mr. V. Srinivas Goud, Mr. Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Mr. Bajireddy Goverdhan and Mr. Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy met Mr. Rama Rao in TRS office. Sources added that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao who will return from New Delhi on Friday might request Raj Bhavan to arrange swearing in of his Council of Ministers on an auspicious date as soon as he makes up his mind on a candidate as the Speaker. Everything else can follow because the formation of Cabinet and the first session of Assembly were linked to the election of Speaker since there were no takers for the post for superstitious beliefs. If Mr. Rao decides to bide time, the swearing in was expected only after Sankranthi.
Bank employees strike work against proposed merger
Employees of public sector banks across Prakasam district struck work on Wednesday in protest against the proposed merger of the Vijaya Bank and the Dena Bank with the Bank of Baroda (BoB). People hopped from one automated teller machine (ATM), as many machines ran out of cash owing to the strike, second in less than a week. Leading the protest in front of the Andhra Bank main branch here, Bank Employees Federation of India State president Ch. Sobhan Babu demanded early completion of wage revision talks. Many private bank employees here too stopped work for some time in solidarity with the striking employees, who were supported by activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the CPI(M). The All India Trade Union Congress(AITUC) and the Centre for Indian Trade Unions(CITU) backed the stir called by the United Forum of Bank Unions(UFBU). CPI(M) district assistant secretary G.V. Konda Reddy said though the merger of sister banks of the State Bank of India had led to the closure of several branches and downsizing of staff, non-performing assets(NPA) had not reduced and banking services had not improved especially in rural areas.
