BJP LEADER TRASHES 3-CAPITAL IDEA FOR ANDHRA PRADESH; SAYS AMARAVATI WILL BE THE ONLY CAPITAL

 

 Siasat.com/News/Andhra Pradesh/BJP leader trashes 3-capital idea for Andhra Pradesh; says Amaravati will be the only capital

 

BJP leader trashes 3-capital idea for Andhra Pradesh; says Amaravati will be the only capital

  C R Gowri Shanker

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|   Published: 27th March 2024 8:03 pm IST Follow on Twitter|   Published: 27th March 2024 8:03 pm IST|   Published: 27th March 2024 8:03 pm IST 

 

Hyderabad: Amaravati will be the capital city of Andhra Pradesh if TDP, Jana Sena and BJP alliance wins the ensuing Assembly elections.

BJP MP Candidate C M Ramesh who is contesting from Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency told Siasat.com in an interview.

Ramesh, who served as the Rajya Sabha MP twice and his current tenure ending next month, asserted that Amaravati will be the capital choice and not Visakhapatnam, propped up by AP Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“Amaravati will be the capital of Andhra Pradesh. There are no two opinions about it. Though I am contesting from Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency which is close to Visakhapatnam would raise eyebrows on my comments, the fact remains that Amaravati will be the capital and we will develop it if we win the polls,” he asserted.

He added, “People of North Andhra Pradesh are not in favour of Vizag as State capital. It was promoted by some people and you know it for what reasons. Amaravati remains the ideal capital city for all.”

Asked about Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s three capital concepts — Visakhapatnam as an executive capital, Amaravati as Legislative capital and Kurnool as judicial capitals, respectively, he said the CM decision has brought development of the State and Amaravati to a grinding halt.

“If we win the ensuing assembly elections, we will pursue the capital city of Amaravati and revive the land pooling system where farmers gave lands for the development of AP capital,” he explained.

For the first time, the saffron party will contest the Assembly and Parliamentary elections in the State in alliance with the TDP and the Jana Sena Party (JSP).
AP has 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats.

Interestingly, the BJP is contesting two of the three MP seats in the erstwhile Visakhapatnam district. While Ramesh has been fielded from Anakapalle, Kothapalli Geetha has been chosen for the Araku Lok Sabha seat. The JSP will contest three of the seven Assembly seats under Anakapalli Lok Sabha segment. These include Anakapalle, Yelamanchili and Pendurthi.

Ramesh also asserted that he would try his best to revive the Visakha Steel factory and ensure captive iron ore.

Asked about the long pending demand for Special category status for Andhra Pradesh, he said the present government had dumped it and in lieu took financial aid from the Centre but spent it on welfare schemes and others and not for industrialisation.

Asked about the talk that Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had regained lost ground in the State following three party alliance and is confident of a big win, he denied the same saying it was YSRCP rumour mill spreading the same.

“It’s a foregone conclusion that Jagan Mohan Reddy is out. There is no chance. TDP, Jana Sena and BJP alliance will win the assembly elections and a good number of Lok Sabha seats thanks to the huge image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he asserted.

Asked what made him choose Anakapalle when he hailed from Kadapa, he said when Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked me to be prepared to contest Lok Sabha elections, I had made a request for Anakapalle.

“From the beginning I wanted to contest from Visakhapatnam or nearby areas. My wish has been fulfilled. I will ensure rapid development of my constituency if elected,” he added.

Asked about the Rs 450 crore forgery case filed against him at Jubilee Hills Police station in Hyderabad, he stoutly denied it. “It’s trash. I am filing a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against the complainants,” he asserted.

C R Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker is a senior journalist based out of Hyderabad. he has served as a Political Editor for Deccan Chronicle. With great insights on the political landscape of the country.

BRS TO BECOME TRS; TELANGANA PUBLIC DID NOT LIKE CHANGE OF NAME

 

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 Siasat.com/News/Telangana/BRS to become TRS; Telangana public did not like change of name

 

BRS to become TRS; Telangana public did not like change of name

 C R Gowri Shanker 

Follow on Twitter|   Published: 23rd March 2024 8:02 pm IST   

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi may revert to its original name Telangana Rashtra Samithi after the parliament elections.

TRS founded by former Chief Minister and TRS founder, K Chandrasekhar Rao rechristened TRS as BRS with an eye on national politics.

And this, according to some party leaders, was one of the root causes for the debacle of the party in the assembly elections since the core “Telangana” tag was lost.

“There is a growing plea from leaders within the party to revert to the original name TRS which could help in reviving its lost glory and luck,” Boianapalli Vinod Kumar, founder member of the TRS, politburo member and BRS MP candidate from Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency told Siasat.com.

He added, “The issue might be taken up after the Lok Sabha elections. TRS has been a brand name for a long period and reverting to its original name may help revive the party.”

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with car symbol founded by K Chandrasekhar Rao on April 27, 2001 for separate Telangana State and achieved the same, changed its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on October 5, 2022 for national politics.

Asked what could be the reasons for the debacle of BRS in the recent assembly elections where Congress won, he said the six guarantees announced by Congress attracted voters besides some of our own follies.

“People believed Congress and its six guarantees. You have seen what is happening now. They are struggling to implement the promises. Rythu Bandhu, one of the most successful schemes of BRS, is yet to be implemented in toto by Congress. Secondly, there is severe water shortage for agriculture and domestic consumption due to illogical decisions of Congress government. You will see much worse situation in the days to come,” he added.


Asked about the spate of leaders quitting the party before the Lok Sabha elections and joining Congress, BJP, he said it’s very unfortunate but over the years leaders have been looking at greener pastures and always want to be in the ruling party.

 C R  Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker is a senior journalist based out of Hyderabad. he has served as a Political Editor for Deccan Chronicle. With great insights on the political landscape of the country.

 

STRIKE-OFF `SECULAR' FROM CONSTITUTION: TELANGANA BJP MP ARVIND DHARMAPURI

 

 Siasat.com/News/Telangana/Strike-off ‘secular’ from constitution:Telangana BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri

 

Strike-off ‘secular’ from constitution:Telangana BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri

 

Congress is in the habit of changing two or three CMs in a State. I wish my friend CM Revanth Reddy will complete his tenure, he remarked.

 C R Gowri Shanker Follow on Twitter|   Updated: 1st March 2024 10:07 pm IST

Hyderabad: Controversial BJP MP from Nizamabad Arvind Dharmapuri wants the word ‘secular’ to go from the Indian Constitution. 

Arvind argues that in 1947 the country was divided on a religious basis against the majority wish and during the process lakhs of people were killed unnecessarily. And there is no reason to continue the word.

“This country was divided into three with two of the parts being converted into Islamic nations. Then what about Hindus? Why was in 1975 when nothing happened this word secular forced into the constitution? Is it not vote bank appeasement politics? Every word in the Constitution is relevant. 

He was referring to the division of India and Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh.

“That is my wish and the constitution gives me the right to speak about my wish,” he told this correspondent.

The words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were added to the Preamble through the Constitution’s 42nd Amendment Act 1976 during the Emergency period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution changed the description of India from “Sovereign, Democratic, Republic” to a “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic and also changed the words unity of the nation to unity and integrity of the nation.

Arvind recently kicked up a controversy saying people who benefitted from various schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should vote for him to ensure a place in Jannat (Heaven).

“If you do good (vote for Modi) you have a place in Jannat. I hope all of them will go to Jannat. Why should people think about going to “Jahannum” (Hell). From my constituency, I wish everyone should go to Jannat,” he remarked.

Exuding confidence that BJP will win 370 Lok Sabha seats (in tune with the Abrogation of Article 370), he said people assert that they would vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the country.

Coming to State politics, he ruled out his party’s alliance with BRS. “I can categorically say there will not be any tie-up with BRS. BRS is irrelevant in Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

Asked about Congress rule in the State, he said the party has failed to fulfill its electoral promises and is struggling to implement schemes. “Congress is in the habit of changing two or three CMs in a state. I wish my friend CM Revanth Reddy will complete his tenure,” he remarked.

C R Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker is a senior journalist based out of Hyderabad. he has served as a Political Editor for Deccan Chronicle. With great insights on the political landscape of the country

TELANGANA: DISCONTENT SIMMERING IN RULING CONGRESS; MANY EYEING KHAMMAM SEAT

 

Siasat.com/News/Telangana/

Telangana: Discontent simmering in ruling Congress; many eyeing Khammam seat

 C R Gowri Shanker Follow on Twitter|   Published: 20th February 2024 4:56 pm IST

Hyderabad: Frustration is building up in the ruling Congress, especially among seniors, over MLC, Rajya Sabha, nominated posts and tickets for ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had filled up some nominated, MLC posts, while those who were denied berths and Assembly tickets were waiting for Lok Sabha tickets, nominated posts, etc.

Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao is among them and is yearning for a Lok Sabha ticket.

“I did not ask for a Rajya Sabha ticket but was seeking Khammam Lok Sabha ticket. I sacrificed my life for the Congress party. I am well versed in the Khammam topography and had traveled extensively when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Khammam. I am confident the Congress High Command will consider my plea and do justice to me,” Hanumantha Rao told Siasat.com.

Demand for Khammam LS ticket

There is a huge demand for Khammam Lok Sabha ticket including one from Nandini Mallu, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Tummala Yugender, son of Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Prasad Reddy, brother of Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to name a few.

Seventy-five-year-old Hanumantha Rao was alternatively hoping for a Rajya Sabha ticket along with others, but the Congress High Command shocked them all by nominating former Union Minister Renuka Choudhry (Khammam) and Anil Kumar Yadav, Youth Congress president (Hyderabad) and son of Anjan Kumar Yadav, ex Secunderabad MP. G Niranjan, another senior party leader from Hyderabad too had sought a Rajya Sabha ticket.

Like Hanumantha Rao, a BC Munur Kapu leader, several senior Congress leaders are waiting for nominated posts, MLCs, and MP tickets. They include G Chinna Reddy, Balram Naik, K Jana Reddy, J Geetha Reddy, T Subbarami Reddy, Kumar etc.

Original Congress vs new entrants

Frustration among the “original Congress” leaders is quite palpable at a recent reception organised by a Congress leader. “What we are seeing is not the original Congress, but the Telugu Desam Congress. The party high command should balance old and new leaders,” quipped a party leader.

Congress leaders in private assert Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is calling the shots with the Congress High Command in New Delhi since he brought back Congress to power in Telangana against a formidable BRS led by K Chandrasekhar Rao. And they don’t want to cross swords now since they are waiting for posts.

What about us?

“No doubt, Revanth Reddy revived Congress and brought back the party to power in Telangana. Credit goes to him. So did Congress leaders who stood by him. Congress’s high command should also ensure deserving posts to committed Congress leaders who stayed with the party through thick and thin over the years. SCs, STs, and BCs should get their due. We never left the party. What we find is that those who came from Telugu Desam are calling the shots and original Congress leaders are sidelined which is quite frustrating,” remarked another senior party leader.

He added, “Meeting CM too is no easy task. We never experienced this problem in the past.”

Media Academy and ally CPI demand

There is a keen fight for the post of Media Academy of Telangana State (MATS) chairman’s post.

Prominent among the aspirants include K Srinivas Reddy, and Tirumalgiri Surender, both ex-chairmen of the academy in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and Srinivas Rao PV of Big TV.

Tirumalgiri Surender has been part of the Congress manifesto committee. Allam Narayana was the first chairman.

Sources said that CPI, an ally of Congress in Assembly elections, has sought two MLC seats and one or two corporation/nominated posts. Press Academy is one of them.

CPI’s Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao is the lone MLA elected from the Kothagudem Assembly constituency.

The Chief Minister, who is having a tough time in fulfilling party promises, taking on alleged irregularities committed by the BRS government especially Kaleshwaram and other projects, scams in sheep rearing, and other schemes, is likely to fill more nominated posts after the Lok Sabha elections.

LS polls have become crucial for the Congress in the wake of the BJP onslaught in the country.

The just concluded Assembly session indicated the growing animosity between BRS and the new Congress government and Lok Sabha elections could see new political equations.

 Siasat.com/C R Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker is a senior journalist based out of Hyderabad. he has served as a Political Editor for Deccan Chronicle. With great insights on the political landscape of the country.

NOMINATING ANIL AND RENUKA TO RS SHOWS CONGRESS IS READY TO TAKE BOLD DECISIONS

 

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 Siasat.com/News/Telangana/Nominating Anil and Renuka to RS shows Congress is ready to take bold decisions

 

Nominating Anil and Renuka to RS shows Congress is ready to take bold decisions

                                                                    

 C R Gowri Shanker Follow on Twitter|   Published: 15th February 2024 7:08 pm IST  

Hyderabad: Congress High Command decision to nominate Renuka Chowdhury and Anil Kumar Yadav for the two Rajya Sabha seats has stumped senior Congress leaders vying for tickets.

Congress of late has been giving importance to leaders of frontal organisations like Congress Seva Dal, Indian Youth Congress, All India Mahila Congress, INTUC and NSUI in view of the exodus to other parties especially BJP in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

While there wasn’t much ado about Renuka Chaudhary, but nomination of young Anil Kumar Yadav has shocked Congress men and women no ends.

Even Anil Kumar Yadav, who was aspiring for Secunderabad Lok Sabha ticket, said he was pleasantly surprised at the nomination.
Surprised at party decision

“I never expected RS ticket in my life time. It clearly shows that Congress High Command recognised hardworking party men and women. I am a standing example. I got the nomination thanks to the hard work put on by Youth Congress,” Anil Kumar said.

Anil Kumar Yadav, a NSUI of leader has been nominated by the Congress as part of infusing young blood in the party.

AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal had issued a statement that AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge took the decision.
Don’t give ticket to outsiders

Sources in the Congress said a senior Congress leader from Hyderabad had written a letter to Congress High Command not to nominate outsiders like Ajay Maken etc., which were doing the rounds, for the RS tickets since it would send a wrong message and create unrest in Telangana Congress.

He requested the party to select any leader from Telangana only to send the right message.

Though there was a talk that Renuka Chaudhary might contest Khammam Lok Sabha constituency, but Delhi party bosses thought otherwise and sent her to RS.

A vociferous and firebrand leader who rose from being a Corporator on Telugu Desam party in MCH in 1986 to Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha member twice and later became a Union Minister. She lost to Nama Nageshwara Rao in Khammam Lok Sabha elections.

Renuka Chaudhary has been a vociferous supporter of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

Anil Kumar Yadav, presently Secunderabad DCC president, is son of Former Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav and was president of State Youth Congress from 2015 to 2020. He contested in 2018 from Musheerabad Assembly constituency and lost. He failed to get ticket in 2023 as part of one ticket for one family policy.

Congress sources said Rahul Gandhi is keen to infuse young blood in the party in not only Telangana State, Andhra Pradesh but also in other parts of the country.
Fight for Khammam LS ticket

Interestingly, ticket to Renuka Chaudhary is also seen as clearing way for aspirants to Khammam Lok Sabha including Nandini Mallu, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Prasad Reddy, brother of Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Tummala Yugender, son of Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, V Hanumantha Rao and others.

Congress will get two Rajya Sabha seats based on their strength and the elections will be unanimous.
Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao, Balram Naik, K Jana Reddy, G Chinna Reddy, J Geetha Reddy, G Niranjan, former MP T Subbarami Reddy were among the many aspirants.

“Looks like they are Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s choices,” a senior Congress leader quipped at the nominations.

BRS re-nominated Vaddiraju Ravichandra as its RS candidate by BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao. Ravichandra, also called Gayatri Ravi, hails from BC Munuru Kapu community and is the founder of Gayatri Group of companies which is into mining, granite businesses.
Now, all eyes are on the Lok Sabha tickets in Congress since the party is in power.

ENNIKALA VELA MOVIE WAR--VELUGU

 

TELANGANA: HANUMANTHA RAO 75 EYEING FOR RS SEAT: SO ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE CONGRESS

 

Siasat.com/News/Telangana/Telangana: Hanumantha Rao, 75, is eyeing for RS seat; so are many others in the Congress 

Telangana: Hanumantha Rao, 75, is eyeing for RS seat; so are many others in the Congress

 C R Gowri Shanker 

Follow on Twitter|   Updated: 13th February 2024 8:03 pm IST

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leaders, who missed the assembly tickets or have no chance of getting Lok Sabha tickets, are vying for Rajya Sabha nominations.

Congress will get two Rajya Sabha seats based on their strength but the aspirants are many.

Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao, who has applied for a Khammam Lok Sabha ticket, is alternatively yearning for another Rajya Sabha term. VHR had served as Rajya Sabha MP for four terms.
Seventy-five-year-old Hanumantha Rao met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in the assembly the other day to seek a ticket.

“The choice is left to the Congress High Command,” he quipped when asked if he too was yearning for a Rajya Sabha ticket. 

Among those in the race include Renuka Chowdhary, Balram Naik, K Jana Reddy, G Chinna Reddy, K Jana Reddy, J Geetha Reddy, G Niranjana, former MP T Subbarami Reddy to name a few.

Niranjan had also met the Chief Minister and staked a claim for RS ticket or MLC.

To avoid any misgivings, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) headed by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had passed a unanimous resolution authorising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise the candidates. 

In the last assembly elections, G Chinna Reddy had sacrificed his ticket to Megha Reddy in Wanaparthy on being assured of suitable compensation.

There is also a talk in Congress circles that the Congress High Command is also considering nominating AICC publicity chairman Pawan Khera, AICC national spokespersons Supriya Shrinate, Jairam Ramesh, AICC NSUI in charge Kanhaiya Kumar, AICC Telangana in-charge Deepa Das Munshi, etc.

Vacancies in Rajya Sabha arise following the completion of terms of BRS MPs J Santosh Kumar, Badugula Lingaiah Yadav, and Vaddiraju Ravichandran who were elected in 2018.

Telangana Assembly has 119 MLAs and elections will be held for three seats.

Going by the current strength of Congress with 64 MLAs in the Assembly, the party can win two seats since 31 votes are required to elect an RS MP. BRS with 39 MLAs can win one seat. The elections will be unanimous if Congress fields two candidates and BRS one. There will be a contest if Congress fields three candidates. If there is a contest, there could be cross-voting.

In the assembly, BJP has 8 MLAs, AIMIM 7, and CPI one. At least 10 MLAs are required to propose the candidature of each Rajya Sabha contestant. CPI, a friendly ally of Congress will support Congress, and AIMIM, an ally of BRS has announced that it will provide issue-based support to Congress. These parties’ stand will be out once elections are declared.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had recently visited New Delhi and discussed RS candidates with the Congress High Command. But so far, he has not given an inkling of likely candidates.

Of course, he did mention a couple of names including G Chinna Reddy as deserving candidates for top nominated posts since they sacrificed their assembly seats.

Sources in Congress say the final nomination will be out any time. 

C R Gowri Shanker

C R Gowri Shanker is a senior journalist based out of Hyderabad. he has served as a Political Editor for Deccan Chronicle. With great insights on the political landscape of the country.