Neta Natter | Revanth’s Never-ending Rescue Acts

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy added a cinematic touch to governance in his speech at the Telangana Civil Servants Association this week, drawing a parallel between his own daily routine and actress Jayaprada’s role in the 1976 Telugu classic ‘Anthuleni Katha’. He recalled the ‘never-ending story’ of the main lead, Jayaprada, who constantly postponed her marriage due to family responsibilities; Just when one crisis is over, another rises up and pushes him back into the grind. This reflects his experience in getting debt-ridden Telangana back on track after inheriting financial turmoil from the previous BRS government. Revanth said that his days are almost the same as those of the film’s protagonist and that he has not taken a single day off in the last two years. Every night he thinks about rest, and every morning a new emergency catches his attention. While former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is resting after leaving behind a debt of Rs.8 lakh crore, he stated that he must continue working to restore balance.

For Ramchander, black is the new saffron

Is black the new saffron? Or something like this? Maybe it could, if we take the example of Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, who is seen wearing a black shirt these days. To a question about his sartorial choice, Ramchander Rao was quick to respond. Blame the Congress, he said, whose decisions are such that people have no option but to be in constant protest.

The list of what the BJP leader calls the government’s people-unfriendly decisions includes a ‘wallet ambush’ for direct debits from bank accounts for traffic challengers and filings and withdrawals in the Supreme Court over AP’s Polavaram project extensions, which according to him is a ‘classic Tughlaq silly farce’. Ramchander Rao seems to have turned his fashion choices into political firepower, pointing out that mourning bad policies can also be an everyday display event.

Komatireddy finds his lost friends

Politics is a difficult game to be in. If you are defeated and fighting, it is often quite difficult to find allies who will stand by you. For Roads and Works Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, this reality check seemed to have hit with visible force as he battled some defamatory reports about him by a news TV channel. Despite Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy stepping in with strict action on the news, Komatireddy found himself alone in his native Nalgonda district and none of the senior leaders of the Congress came to support him during the ordeal; This was in stark contrast to how some party leaders from other regions reacted to and supported him. What was even more surprising was that those who were seen as Komatireddy’s stalwart followers maintained a conscious silence on the matter. They say silence sometimes speaks louder than words and this seems to be true for Congress leaders in Nalgonda district as well.

Chinese manja is made in India. Why don’t you cut the rope?

It was banned. It shouldn’t exist. But it is. And he proves his existence to his victims in the most painful ways. From Hyderabad’s top police to other officials, forest department and countless others, everyone is urging people to stay away from the lethal ‘Chinese’ manja, which has become popular even though the lethal glass-coated nylon rope is manufactured within the country. A few cases here and there, some seizures and distraction at the end of Sankranti festivities and kite-flying season, before reviving the following year. One wonders whether the campaign against domestically produced ‘Chinese’ manja is more a reflection of steps being taken that have enjoyed a few marginally ‘successful’ seizures, or whether there is actually a serious effort to end the threat. After all, if the deadly banned kite flying nylon is being produced domestically, then it should be possible to cut off supplies if the authorities are serious about ending this problem. But if past and present are any indication, come next year’s Sankranti, the story may repeat itself.

Naidu’s harvest festival is bountiful

According to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, politics seems to be a 24×7 habit. After all, he’s been in this business for decades. And festivals, far from being a respite, are prime-time slots for some well-timed political messaging. As Sankranti arrived, while the rest of the state was caught up in Sankranti joy, Naidu chose the opportunity of a teleconference with TD leaders and workers.

The instructions were predictable but precise: Tell people that every family lives happily under the current government. He reminded that prosperity plus development equals good governance; A formula worth repeating between mouthfuls of ‘ariselu’. This was followed by festive speeches such as how the prosecutor’s office, which had been pending for 60 months, was cleared, how water and tree planting bills were paid, and how plans were made to reduce electricity charges, which he insisted should reach the public without delay. Sankranti is the harvest festival, after all, and everyone in the TD was reminded that this is the best time for some to reap the fruits of government work and bring home the fruits of their labor.

Contributions by L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Neeraj Kumar Saibewar, P. Srinivas, Sanjay Samuel Paul, Md Ilyas

What went into making Vizag’s air purifier?

It took just a few weeks to transform the polluted air in Vizag from the “very poor” category to the “satisfactory” category; this was announced with obvious satisfaction by Vizag Telugu Desam MP M. Sribharat. Jana Sena leader Dr. was quick to praise this achievement. Sandeep Panchakarla attributed the cleaner air to the efforts of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the leadership of Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. When AQI levels reached 300 last December, there was concern on all sides, prompting a rapid crackdown and a series of measures including fines on polluting vehicles, industrial emissions and awareness campaigns. As of January 9, AQI rose to 93. Even as leaders of the partner parties were in a mood to celebrate this success, people wondered whether fines alone would do the trick when it came to breathing cleaner air.

Janga thinks one man may propose, another man will dispose

Service to God is generally assumed to be a selfless act, although occasionally one may make a request or pray for something in return. While it is not known whether senior TD leader Janga Krishnamurthy has made such a request to the Lord, his recent departure from the TTD Board of Trust may mean that this wish remains unfulfilled. All he wanted was to fulfill his long-time dream of owning a guesthouse in Tirumala, but the land allocated in the name of a trust affiliated with him was marked by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. Thereupon, the allocation was cancelled. Janga, who served on the Trust Board from YS Rajasekhar Reddy to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, had earlier resumed his post after facing objections to his plan. After being brought back to the board, he tried again but was thwarted, leading to his resignation. The old adage is proven that while a man can make an offer, he still needs the will of God, otherwise another man can make the offer.

Jaganbels? Did a bell ring?

What does Nazi propaganda genius Joseph Goebbels have to do with YSRC leader and former prime minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy? According to Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, who called the former AP chief minister ‘Jaganbbels’ the other day, it was all for a misinformation campaign launched by him, ostensibly to stall AP’s development and destabilize the state. According to Parthasarathy, similar to Goebbels’ propaganda to glorify Adolf Hitler, Jagan Mohan Reddy and his team are targeting the sentiments of people in the state to influence temple tourism. This statement was made in reference to former TTD president and YSRC leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy’s ‘against’ comments against Lord Venkateswara and the minister said this showed the Opposition party’s determination to undermine temple tourism, which generates significant revenue for the state exchequer.

Nellore’s ORR dream collapses

Hard braking followed by a sudden stop, at least for now, seems to have become the story of Nellore’s much-debated Outer Ring Road (ORR) project encountering a force more powerful than flowing traffic – minister Dr. Ponguru Narayana poured cold water on the 1,930 crore rupees idea, saying the city could do without it for now. While Nellore Urban Development Authority chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy was hoping for the green light at a meeting where he convened an impressive gathering of MLAs, collector mayor and department officials, the proposed 83.64 km ORR, passing through four Assembly constituencies, was left in tattered pieces. While the officials and MLAs were engrossed in details, the minister stepped in to remind everyone that ring roads were being widened, underpasses were being constructed and money does not grow on roadside trees. This was the end of the ORR dream, at least for now.

Cockahoop followers prank Pawan

When it’s time for feathers to fly during Sankranti, even the words of their beloved leader fall on deaf ears. This was also the case in Pithapuram; Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s fans and followers have brushed aside his sage advice to stay away from cockfights and gambling on Sankranti. His sharp advice to people, especially his fans and Jana Sena cadres, to celebrate Sankranti but stay away from cockfights fell on deaf ears. Not only this, some of his fans and followers splashed flexis on his face along with other Jana Sena MLAs as he took Pawan’s advice and continued the banned cockfights with great gusto.

Contributions by Md Ilyas, Aruna, Sampat G. Samritan, Avinash P. Surbamanyam, Pathri Rajasekhar, Vadrevu Srinivas