India's 29th state is born; Good Morning Telangana
DC/PTI | C R GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJun 2, 2014, 7:38 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 4:16 am IST
ESL Narasimhan takes oath as first governor of Telangana, KCR to be sworn as CM
A massive crowd gathers at Tank Bund in the city on Sunday night to celebrate the birth of Telangana state. Slogans and the thunder of fireworks reverberated into the night as people joined in the celebrations to mark the historical day. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Monday sees the end of six decades of struggle for self-rule and the birth of Telangana, the 29th state of the country.
“We achieved Telangana. The long cherished dream of the people, and mine too,
has come true. It’s now a new beginning. Like the Telangana movement, there is
a need for another movement for reconstruction and development of Telangana
state,” said TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who will take oath as the first
Chief Minister of Telangana on Monday, June 2, the Appointed Date for the
formation of Telangana.
Telangana, which comprises 10 districts — Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda — will soon have 24 districts if Mr Rao has his way.
By Sunday, Hyderabad had turned into a “Pink City” with TRS flags everywhere.
The celebrations, which started from morning, reached a feverish pitch by
evening as the darkening sky was lit by dazzling displays of fireworks, and the
city was ablaze with lights.
TRS, Congress and other political parties as well
as pro-Telangana groups lined up a series of programmes to celebrate the
formation of the new state.
The streets were full of dancing youth. Prominent landmarks like the
Secretariat, Assembly, Charminar, Secunderabad Railway Station, Kacheguda
Railway Station, Tank Bund, and People’s Plaza, besides other parts of the
state, were lit up.
Telangana supporters also took out victory rallies and distributed sweets to
celebrate the occasion.
Congress leaders took out a rally on Sunday night, hailing their party
president Sonia Gandhi for making separate statehood for Telangana a reality.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan was sworn in as the Governor of
Telangana, the country's 29th state, on Monday.
Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta administered the
oath to Narasimhan, who will be the common Governor to Telangana and residuary
Andhra Pradesh.
Hyderabad will be the joint capital of Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Rao will be sworn in by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan on Monday
at 8.15 am. Before taking oath, he will offer floral tributes at the Martyrs
Memorial at Gun Park in front of the state Assembly at 7.30 am and later take
salute at the ceremonial parade organised by the police at Secunderabad Parade
Grounds at 10.40 am.
(Read: K Chandrasekhar Rao has glittering invitee list for
swearing in ceremony)
2014 Lok Sabha election results:
KCR creates history in Telangana, TDP bounces back in Seemandhra
DC | C R GOWRI SHANKER/CH V M KRISHNA RAOPublishedMay 17, 2014, 12:22 pm ISTUpdated
Apr 1, 2019, 7:41 am IST
KCR set to become CM of India's 29th state, Naidu promises to develop Seemandhra
PublishedMay 17, 2014, 12:22 pm IST
Updated
Apr 1, 2019, 7:41 am IST
Apr 1, 2019, 7:41 am IST
KCR set to become CM of India's 29th state, Naidu promises to develop Seemandhra
Telugu Desam Party President N. Chandrababu Naidu displays the victory symbol to supporters and Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao sitting with party members (Photo: PTI/DC)
Hyderabad: The TRS led by K Chandrasekhar Rao, swept the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on Friday and is all set to form the first government in the new state of Telangana.
The party won 63 Assembly and 11 Lok Sabha seats. Mr Rao, who successfully led the 14-year Telangana movement for a separate state and finally achieved it, will be the first Chief Minister of Telangana state after he is formally elected leader of the TRS Legislature Party on Saturday and invited by Governor E S L Narsimhan to form the government.
Party leaders have already made arrangements for the swearing-in of Mr Rao and his Cabinet at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on June 2, the date on which the new state comes into existence officially.
(Read:Telugu Desam, BJP face Cabinet blues in Seemandhra)
Party sources say he is finalising the Cabinet in consultation with senior party leaders.
The TRS, which began from scratch winning 10 seats initially and 26 subsequently, has now got an absolute majority.
Of the 119 Assembly seats, the TRS won 63, Congress 21, TD 15, followed by the MIM with seven seats, the BJP with five seats and the YSRC with three. The Left got two seats and others, three. The TRS also won 12 LS seats out of 17, which could give it some clout at the Centre. The YSRC, Congress, TD, BJP and the MIM won one LS seat each.
The Congress, which agreed to the creation of the new state, was relegated to second place. Telangana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha, D. Srinivas, former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy, TPCC president V Hanumantha Rao, and Sunitha Laxma Reddy all lost.
Mr Rao won from Gajwel Assembly constituency by a margin of 19,333 votes against his nearest TD rival V. Pratap Reddy. He also won the Medak LS seat with a thumping majority. He said the Legislature Party will decide which seat he will retain.All sitting TRS MLAs were returned. Former minister J. Geetha Reddy won the Zaheerabad seat, but by a narrow margin.“People have shown huge confidence in us and we’ll discharge our duties to their satisfaction. We will strive for development of Bangaru Telangana with the cooperation of all sections of people,” said Mr Harish Rao.
Party MLA K.T. Rama Rao said, “We have no animosity against any party. I congratulate Narendra Modi and N. Chandrababu Naidu.”
Naidu back with a bang in residuary Andhra Pradesh
After a gap of 10 years, Telugu Desam N Chandrababu Naidu returned to power after the party’s impressive performance in the Assembly polls in Seemandhra region.
The party’s victory was thanks to Mr Naidu’s excellent poll management and of course the Modi wave, which helped the TD-BJP combine to secure 106 Assembly seats in the House of 175.
The TD crossed the magic mark of 88 on its own and bagged 102 seats. The brilliant performance of the combine also stretched to the Lok Sabha results with the TD getting 14 and the BJP two.Chief Minister designate Naidu on Friday night declared the win a result of a “silent wave and silent revolution” that had worked in favour of the TD and BJP combine which no one had foreseen. Even the two independents who won Assembly seats are Telugu Desam rebels.
Meanwhile, the YSR Congress led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, which was sure of a win in the fiercely fought polls, has to be content with the role of the ain opposition with 67 Assembly seats. On the other hand, Friday saw the Congress’ worst ever performance in Seemandhra region as the party could not register a single victory in the 175 Assembly or the 25 Lok Sabha seats.
All the past and present PCC presidents lost and the Seemandhra voters ensured that several former ministers including Anam Ramnarayana Reddy lost their deposits or came a poor third.The Jai Samaikyandhra Party launched by former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy also lost miserably with all its candidates barring one losing their deposits.
The people of Seemandhra region not only exercised their wisdom in choosing a stable government in the TD-BJP combine but also gave a clear mandate in its favour and proved the political pundits who had predicted a hung house, wrong.
Except the ruling TD-BJP combine and opposition YSRC, no other party will have representation in the AP Assembly.
It was clear that the voters of Seemandhra held the Congress responsible for bifurcation and punished it with vengeance; at the same time they chose the Modi-Naidu combine to rule them hoping for large-scale development in and around the new capital for the residuary state.
With regard to the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TD won 15, BJP two and YSRC eight. All Union ministers from the Congress,like Kishore Chandra Deo, M.M. Pallam Raju, Panabaka Lakshmi and Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy lost.
Ms Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, mother of Mr Jagan, lost the Visakhapatnam LS seat to BJP Seemandhra president Kambhampati Haribabu who emerged as a giant killer.
Of the 119 Assembly seats, the TRS won 63, Congress 21, TD 15, followed by the MIM with seven seats, the BJP with five seats and the YSRC with three. The Left got two seats and others, three. The TRS also won 12 LS seats out of 17, which could give it some clout at the Centre. The YSRC, Congress, TD, BJP and the MIM won one LS seat each.
The Congress, which agreed to the creation of the new state, was relegated to second place. Telangana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha, D. Srinivas, former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy, TPCC president V Hanumantha Rao, and Sunitha Laxma Reddy all lost.
Mr Rao won from Gajwel Assembly constituency by a margin of 19,333 votes against his nearest TD rival V. Pratap Reddy. He also won the Medak LS seat with a thumping majority. He said the Legislature Party will decide which seat he will retain.All sitting TRS MLAs were returned. Former minister J. Geetha Reddy won the Zaheerabad seat, but by a narrow margin.
The Congress, which agreed to the creation of the new state, was relegated to second place. Telangana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha, D. Srinivas, former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy, TPCC president V Hanumantha Rao, and Sunitha Laxma Reddy all lost.
Mr Rao won from Gajwel Assembly constituency by a margin of 19,333 votes against his nearest TD rival V. Pratap Reddy. He also won the Medak LS seat with a thumping majority. He said the Legislature Party will decide which seat he will retain.All sitting TRS MLAs were returned. Former minister J. Geetha Reddy won the Zaheerabad seat, but by a narrow margin.
“People have shown huge confidence in us and we’ll discharge our duties to their satisfaction. We will strive for development of Bangaru Telangana with the cooperation of all sections of people,” said Mr Harish Rao.
Party MLA K.T. Rama Rao said, “We have no animosity against any party. I congratulate Narendra Modi and N. Chandrababu Naidu.”
Naidu back with a bang in residuary Andhra Pradesh
After a gap of 10 years, Telugu Desam N Chandrababu Naidu returned to power after the party’s impressive performance in the Assembly polls in Seemandhra region.
The party’s victory was thanks to Mr Naidu’s excellent poll management and of course the Modi wave, which helped the TD-BJP combine to secure 106 Assembly seats in the House of 175.
The TD crossed the magic mark of 88 on its own and bagged 102 seats. The brilliant performance of the combine also stretched to the Lok Sabha results with the TD getting 14 and the BJP two.
Chief Minister designate Naidu on Friday night declared the win a result of a “silent wave and silent revolution” that had worked in favour of the TD and BJP combine which no one had foreseen. Even the two independents who won Assembly seats are Telugu Desam rebels.
Meanwhile, the YSR Congress led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, which was sure of a win in the fiercely fought polls, has to be content with the role of the ain opposition with 67 Assembly seats. On the other hand, Friday saw the Congress’ worst ever performance in Seemandhra region as the party could not register a single victory in the 175 Assembly or the 25 Lok Sabha seats.
All the past and present PCC presidents lost and the Seemandhra voters ensured that several former ministers including Anam Ramnarayana Reddy lost their deposits or came a poor third.
The Jai Samaikyandhra Party launched by former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy also lost miserably with all its candidates barring one losing their deposits.
The people of Seemandhra region not only exercised their wisdom in choosing a stable government in the TD-BJP combine but also gave a clear mandate in its favour and proved the political pundits who had predicted a hung house, wrong.
Except the ruling TD-BJP combine and opposition YSRC, no other party will have representation in the AP Assembly.
It was clear that the voters of Seemandhra held the Congress responsible for bifurcation and punished it with vengeance; at the same time they chose the Modi-Naidu combine to rule them hoping for large-scale development in and around the new capital for the residuary state.
With regard to the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TD won 15, BJP two and YSRC eight. All Union ministers from the Congress,like Kishore Chandra Deo, M.M. Pallam Raju, Panabaka Lakshmi and Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy lost.
Ms Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, mother of Mr Jagan, lost the Visakhapatnam LS seat to BJP Seemandhra president Kambhampati Haribabu who emerged as a giant killer.
KCR IS FIRST CM OF T
Welfare will get utmost priority. In the next five years, we will spend R1 lakh crore for the welfare of SCs, STs, Backward Classes and minorities
K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO Leader of the Telangana movement and president of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Telangana, as the 29th state of the Indian Union was born on June 2, ringing down the curtain on a 14-year political battle for a separate state.
Eleven Cabinet ministers were sworn in as well. As expected, Mr Rao appointed two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from a minority community, Mohammed Mahmood Ali, MLC, who got the plum portfolios of revenue, relief and rehabilitation, ULC, stamps and registration, and the second from the dalit community, Dr T. Rajaiah, who was given the portfolio of medical and health.
There are no women in this first phase of Cabinet formation. There is no representation for Khammam and Mahbubnagar districts, though these will probably follow in the next phase when another six ministers will be appointed.
Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered the oath of office to 60-year-old Mr Rao and his 11-member Cabinet, in Telugu, English and Urdu. The ceremony began at 8.15 am at Raj Bhavan, which was packed with people from all walks of life, including the kin of those martyred in the cause of Telangana, industrialists, sportsmen etc.
Slogans of “Jai Telangana” and “Jai Mana Rashtram” rent the air. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, dressed in his trademark white shirt and pants, and the vermillion tikka on his forehead, took the oath of office in the name of God. Many of his Cabinet colleagues took it in the name of Pavitra Hrudayam (conscience).
As predicted by this newspaper, Mr Rao retained the SC, ST, BC and minorities welfare portfolios, municipal administration and urban development, energy, coal, GAD and all other portfolios that have not yet been allotted.
Mohammed Mahamood Ali took the oath after Mr Rao. Dr T. Rajaiah, a Dalit from Station Ghanpur (SC) constituency, was the third to take the Mahmood, Rajaiah Dy CMs No women for now Cabinet to be expanded soon
KCR IS FIRST CM OF T
Deccan Chronicle · 3 Jun 2014
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
By appointing the two men as his deputies, the Chief Minister demonstrated that he had kept his promise to give priority to minorities and SCs.
Another senior party leader and MLC Nayani Narasimha, who “reluctantly” took the home portfolio, took the oath next and was followed by Mr Etala Rajender, Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Mr T. Harish Rao, Mr T. Padma Rao, Mr P. Mahender Reddy, Mr K.T. Rama Rao, Mr Jogu Ramanna and Mr G. Jagdishwar Reddy.
The lone MLA from Secunderabad city, Mr T. Padma Rao, who was inducted to strengthen the party in the city in view of the GHMC polls, got the plum Excise portfolio which he desired.
Mr Rao’s US-educated son, Mr Rama Rao, who was taking care of industry honchos at the swearing-in ceremony, was given IT and panchayat raj portfolios, while his nephew, Mr Harish Rao got irrigation.
Mr Rao had initially planned to induct just six ministers, but due to pressure increased it to nine and subsequently to 11. Barring new entrant Mahender Reddy from Tandur, all those inducted today are hardcore party leaders.
Mr Rao, of course, received much applause from the crowd. But Mr Harish Rao too received a long burst of applause from the packed crowd.
TD leaders stayed away from the function. Congress and BJP leaders, including former Speaker Nadendla Manohar, former CM Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy, CPI leader Aziz Pasha, Congress MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy and CPM leader Tammineni Veerabhadram were all in attendance.
Raj Bhavan was packed to capacity with invitees and as the flow of dignitaries increased, there was a scramble for space. Mr Harish Rao and Mr Rama Rao swung into action and made the necessary seating arrangements. Still, many dignitaries had to sit crammed together because there were not enough chairs for everyone.
Problem of plenty for K Chandrasekhar Rao
DECCAN CHRONICLE | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 14, 2015, 5:27 am IST
UpdatedMar 26, 2019, 6:18 pm IST
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.Hyderabad: If Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao agrees to all the demands, the state will soon have 36 districts. The government has received representations from political parties, leaders and organisations seeking new districts, the latest being Yadadri.Sources said the CCLA has received data from various districts and it is being processed for creation of new districts.While the CM planned to increase the number of districts by 12-14, the demand is much more. Officials are processing petitions and scanning data pertaining to population, literacy, education, infrastructure, drinking water, power, land, revenue, recognition of the place and its history, availability of land for construction of district headquarters, Assembly constituencies, revenue divisions, mandals among others in various districts, besides the facilities available in the towns to be converted into new district headquarters.The government will study the feasibility of all the requests before taking a final decision, a senior official said. Recently, Telugu Desam leader M. Narasimhulu launched a movement demanding creation of Yadadri district named after Yadagirigutta besides Bhuvanagiri in Nalgonda district.The government received nine representations from Mahbubnagar district, including eight seeking Gadwal district. Congress MLA D.K. Aruna and others are reportedly backing the Gadwal as a district in view of its prominent place in the world textile map, and history. Some are backing Wanaparthy district.Similarly, representations have been received for Sammakka Sarakka, Jangaon, Mahbubabad districts in present Warangal district. Girijan leaders want a new Girijan district named after Sammakka Sarakka with Girijan areas.From Khammam, representations have been received for creation of Sathupally, Kothagudem and Bhadrachallam districts while from Adilabad there is a plea for carving out Kagaznagar, Nirmal, Bellampalli and Mancherial. From Medak district, there is already a plea for Gajwel, besides Medak town, Vikarabad, Medchal in Ranga Reddy district. The list goes on.The government constituted a panel to study the formation of 14 new districts in addition to existing 10. The new districts are likely to come into being from March 1, 2016 and the announcement would be made in January.Objections and suggestions will be received from the people and parties in February. It is stated that while the national average of population for each district is 19 lakh in the country, population of districts in TS is around 36 lakh each.
K Chandrasekhar Rao’s 1st signature to cost Rs 15,000 crore
DC | L. VENKAT RAM REDDY
PublishedMay 18, 2014, 8:11 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 7:31 am IST
TRS’ farm loan waiver scheme to directly benefit 22 lakh farmers in Telangana
TRS president k Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: DC/File)
It will directly benefit 22 lakh farmers in the Telangana state amounting up to Rs 1 lakh each.
Sources said retired IAS officers working with the TRS like A.K. Goel, Ram Laxman, Ramachandrudu Naik and K.V. Ramanachary have started preparing the “first file draft” for the farm loan waiver.
The draft will be sent to the state administration to prepare the file accordingly to enable Mr Rao to sign on it immediately after taking oath as the Telangana CM.
“First signature” slogan was the main poll plank to woo voters for the heads of all political parties in the state ever since the late YSR did it by providing “free power to farmers” soon after taking oath as the CM in 2004 from the podium itself at a public event in Lal Bahadur Stadium.
Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu too had promised that his “first signature” would be on loan waiver for farmers after taking charge as AP Chief Minister.
Mr Rao had promised in several of his election meetings that his first signature would be on loan waiver for farmers of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Farmers in the Telangana state owe nearly Rs 24,162 crore to banks as of now. Of them, nearly 22 lakh farmers availed loans of less than Rs 1 lakh which amounts to nearly Rs 15,000 crore, they will now be eligible for the loan waiver.
The amount required will be allotted in the state Budget when the TRS government tables it in the first session of Legislative Assembly.
Party sources said that the farm loan waiver would come into force from the current financial year (2014-15) itself.
They said efforts were being made even to give relief to those farmers who had availed of loans of more than Rs 1 lakh. For them, Rs 1 lakh would be waived off and they would be given some time to clear the remaining arrears. Besides, a scheme to provide interest-free loans to farmers is also under the active consideration of the TRS leadership.
Budget to dictate Telangana policy
DC | CR GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedFeb 24, 2015, 9:09 am IST
UpdatedMar 29, 2019, 6:12 pm IST
Clarity on Centre’s policies and grants to states only after Budget
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao
Hyderabad: The first full-fledged Budget of Telangana is set to undergo some changes depending on the financial help the Centre will extend to the states in the backdrop of Niti Aayog replacing the Planning Commission.
CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao expects more clarity on Central government policies and programmes, especially grants to states under various sectors once the Central Budget proposals are out on February 28.
KCR has asked finance minister Etala Rajender and his team of officials to go ahead with the preparation of the state budget that should be adaptable to changes in accordance with the Union budget.
The state budget will be presented in the Assembly on March 11. Sources said that KCR had told senior officials that the Modi government at the Centre was considering the 2015-2016 Budget as a transit budget and the next budget, for 2016-2017, would be a full fledged one.
Stating that Mr Modi was undertaking a qualitative change in governance through Niti Aayog and was planning to prune centrally sponsored schemes from the present 122 to 66 or totally scrap all the schemes, he said a clear picture would come only on February 28 when the Central budget was presented. “There is still confusion. We supported the Prime Minister’s plan to prune or scrap all centrally sponsored schemes.
We instead requested him to take a macro level decision and allocate funds to various sectors like education, health and others so that the states can utilise it appropriately instead of imposing schemes, some of which are not needed for states.
There has been a positive response from the PM,” KCR said. The CM also pointed out how states were forced to implement some of the centrally sponsored schemes whether it was required or not and bear 30 per cent of the cost of the scheme while the Centre provided 70 per cent.
“You can find 20 or 30 buildings in Hyderabad, Rajendranagar and other places which are built using Central funding. Because the funds are released for a particular scheme and have to be utilised, buildings are constructed but are lying idle. States should have the choice to decide utilisation of funds wherever required. They are public funds and needs to be utilised judiciously,” he added.
“You can find 20 or 30 buildings in Hyderabad, Rajendranagar and other places which are built using Central funding. Because the funds are released for a particular scheme and have to be utilised, buildings are constructed but are lying idle. States should have the choice to decide utilisation of funds wherever required. They are public funds and needs to be utilised judiciously,” he added.
K Chandrasekhar Rao opens gift bag; announces several schemes
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJun 5, 2014, 6:52 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 3:32 am IST
Rs12,000 crore loan waiver; 2-bedroom houses for poor; no road tax for autos
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao speaks to irrigation minister T. Harish Rao at his first public meeting at Gajwel in Medak. (Photo: Deepak Deshpande)
Gajwel (Medak Dist.): Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao got down to business and announced the implementation of several schemes that were part of the TRS election promises.
He announced that farmers’ crop loans to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore, covering 23 lakh farmers, would be waived in the next 10 to 12 days.
He stated that the government intended to create 14 new districts, raise the total number of districts in the state to 24, scrap road tax for autorickshaws, and provide two-bedroom housing for weaker sections in the state. Applications for the first 5,000 houses were already open.
Mr Rao promised free education from the kindergarten to post-graduate level, and in integrated residential schools. Old age pension of Rs 1,000, and Rs 1,500 for the handicapped, was another welfare measure that the Chief Minister announced. He said that Gajwel, Shadnagar and Choutuppal would be developed as horticulture hubs.
“I discussed the loan waiver scheme at the State Level Bankers’ Meet. The crop loans come to about Rs 12,000 crore covering 23 lakh farmers. We promised to waive loans below Rs 1 lakh. This will be done in 10-12 days time,” Mr Rao said at the meeting.
No cap makes MLC polls costly affair
Deccan Chronicle · 9 Mar 2015
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER | DC HYDERABAD, MARCH 8
Elections to the Legislative Council from two graduate constituencies in the state are turning
out to be an expensive affair for the candidates.
“If one is contesting from a major political party, he or she has to spend at least `2 crore to `3
crore. Some may spend less, but it is a costly affair,” a BJP leader said.
Unlike candidates for the general elections, MLC candidates from graduates constituencies do
not need to file their election expenditure.
“There is no clause in the election manual. If there are complaints, we will certainly look into
them. But we do not monitor expenditure for these elections,” Bhanwarlal, chief electoral of-
ficer of Telangana, told this newspaper.
He said the election code was not strictly implemented since the voters are well-educated.
So where does the money go? “We spend on hiring vehicles to travel to three districts and for
the cam- paign. We spend for breakfast, lunch and dinner meeting with graduate voters, paying for campaigners, incidental expenses including for pamphlets, stickers, posters, SMS and
others,” explained leaders from the Congress and the TRS.
“Of late some groups demand huge cash saying they have a couple of hundred or a thousand
voter,” the leaders said.
The popularity of the TRS will be put to test in the March 16 polls, following its recent run of
success in the Medak Lok Sabha bypolls and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board elections.
The Centre’s decision to stop funding model schools is a blessing in disguise for Khammam
district where school building works have been going on at a snail’s pace.
The 14th finance commission recommended that the Centre stop spending money on model
schools.
With no Central assistance, the state has to run the schools on its own or wind up the scheme.
The officials were preparing to make seven more model schools functional from the next academic year.
The government was considering a new plan for model schools which are not yet ready to
function.
No strict rules as candidates educated:
Andhra Pradesh: Centre not to offset deficit
DC | GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedMar 24, 2015, 2:45 pm IST
UpdatedMar 29, 2019, 2:20 pm IST
Representational image (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: The Centre has questioned the Andhra Pradesh government’s rationale behind asking it to offset its revenue deficit of `16,000 crore while continuing the free power scheme to the farm sector and waiving crop loans.
It has made it clear that it cannot offset losses running into thousands of crores that occurred due to implementation of election promises like free power and waiver of farm loans since other states would also demand similar sops, which the Centre cannot fulfill.
The Central government has also reportedly rejected AP’s project report for taking up developmental works for the new capital at Tullur village in Guntur at a cost of `1,000 crore and has asked for a more detailed project report.
The AP government had sent a report citing taking up of drainage, roads and other works, which the Union urban development ministry wasn’t satisfied with and sought a much more detailed report including the construction of new buildings, areas and other developmental works etc.
Sources said following this, the state government has sent another detailed project report in tune with the Centre’s guidelines for grant of `1,000 crore.
“Union urban development ministry officials rejected AP’s report and sought a much more detailed project report which would include buil-dings to be constructed with areas, roads, drain-age and other minute details for grant of `1,000 crore. The government has complied with the request,” a source said.
To ensure that AP gets more funds for various developmental works, Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has asked his ministry to ensure grants to the Capital Region Development Authority comprising Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri instead of just the capital region of Tullur.
If AP gets the special category status, which is presently applicable only to the Northeastern states and Jammu & Kashmir, it will get 90 per cent grants instead of loans for centrally aided projects and external aid projects.
K Chandrasekhar Rao sees a wave,
90 seats for TRS in Telangana
'Congress is a gone case. Wait for few more days and you will know it'
TRS president k Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: “We will get 2/3rd majority and form the government. There is a clear wave,” said TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday.
Mr Rao flew down to his native Chintamadaka village in Siddipet mandal of Medak district in a helicopter from his farmhouse in Gajwel and exercised his franchise along with his wife Sobha on Wednesday.
Mr Rao is contesting from Medak Lok Sabha and Gajwel Assembly constituencies in Medak district.
Asked whether he was nervous, he said “Chunaav ladte hai lekin darte nahi. Hum sarkar form karne ja rahe hai. 2/3rd majority hume milegi (We fight elections, but are not scared of it. We are going to form the next government. We will get 2/3rd majority.)”
When asked whether he was confident of forming the next government, he remarked, “Hundred per cent. We will form the government on our own.”
Asked if TRS would seek Congress’ support in case of a fractured verdict, he said, “I don’t see a fractured verdict. We will come on our own with close to 90 seats.”
“Congress is a gone case. Wait for few more days and you will know it,” he added when reminded that Congress too was claiming credit for Telangana and was confident of a big win.
Mr Rao, who is currently Mahbubnagar MP, has made it a point to cast his vote in his native village since the past three decades. “It’s thrilling to vote in the new state of Telangana,” he said.
“We have been waiting for him since morning. He makes it a point to vote in the village and interact with locals. The village has 1,552 voters,” said sarpanch Sekhar.
As reports trickled from various parts of Telangana on Wednesday, TRS leaders were in jubilant mood. “People are seeking a change. They want to give a chance to TRS to rule,” said a senior party leader.
Telangana: KCR plans a ‘coup’ on Hyderabad Army areas
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedNov 2, 2014, 7:05 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 5:25 pm IST
CM to discuss plan with defence ministry
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: DC
Hyderabad: Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao is toying with the idea of requesting the defence ministry to shift military installations in Secunderabad Cantonment and other parts of Hyderabad to neighbouring Ranga Reddy district.
The government plans to submit a proposal to the defence ministry offering land and infrastructure to house a new cantonment at one place as against multiple installations in the heart of Hyderabad.
It may not seek a shift of the Hakimpet or Dundi-gal defence airports, which are quite far from the city, but core installations and units in the heart of Secunderabad, Mehdipatnam and other areas.
The move is manifold. It will bring all defence units at one secure place instead of multiple places, ensure high security, decongest the city and help the state government in utilising prime land for state purposes.
Defence land for Telangana Secretariat soon
DECCAN CHRONICLE
PublishedAug 30, 2015, 6:47 am IST
UpdatedMar 28, 2019, 12:46 am IST
The TS government has sought 60 acres of Bison Polo Ground land
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. (Photo: PTI)
Hyderabad: The process for allotment of defence land for the Telangana Secretariat is likely to be completed in a month.
Dr S. Venugopala Chary, Telangana special representative in New Delhi, said defence minister Manohar Parrikar had approved the proposal to hand over land and asked the defence authorities to scout for a suitable land in lieu of Bison Polo grounds in Secunderabad.
“The process is on. The defence minister has okayed the TS government’s request for defence land and allotment of suitable land in lieu, on the city periphery. We expect the process to be completed in a month,” he said.
Asked whether defence authorities had begun the process of scouting for land, he said it is yet to begin.
“Defence officials will have to work in tandem with revenue officials to check out the lands available in and around Hyderabad. The TS government would show some of the available plots of land and the choice is left to the defence authorities. Revenue officials have been asked to select some suitable lands,” he added.
On the reason for the delay in completing the process, he said transferring of 60 acres of defence land in Hyderabad to the state government certainly goes through a lot of processes and takes time.
To another question, he said the TS government has presently sought only Bison Polo Ground which is under the control of defence authorities. “Yes, there was a discussion on shifting of entire defence establishments in the city to another place,” he added.
The TS government has sought 60 acres of Bison Polo Ground land in Secunderabad for the location of the new Secretariat building and plans to construct skyscrapers in the present Secretariat in collaboration with prominent business houses.
Since the defence ministry is yet to hand over the land, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao too is silent on the issue since the matter is still pending.
The CM initially planned to construct the new Secretariat at Government Chest Hospital at Erragadda, but dropped the plan following a hue and cry raised by Opposition and a section of doctors and other medical staff.
The government planned to shift the chest hospital to TB Sanatorium at Vikarabad, 70 km from Hyderabad.
Telanagana State to restore 46,000 water tanks
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJan 22, 2015, 11:30 am IST
UpdatedMar 29, 2019, 11:31 pm IST
The project will cost up to Rs 22,000 crore over five years
Telangana State to restore 46000 water tanks
Hyderabad: Telangana will be embarking on perhaps the biggest ever project ever attempted: The revival of over 46,000 tanks state wide under Mission Kakatiya.
The project, that will cost up to Rs 22,000 crore over five years, will restore 46,631 tanks. More than 9,300 tanks will be restored this year. Once completed, Mission Kakatiya will provide storage for 265 TMC of water from the Godavari and Krishna basins.
The Chief Minister has invited Union water resources minister Uma Bharati to open the project, probably in the first week of February. The project will require a massive amount of machinery and manpower. Besides, the government will have the uphill task of disposing of hundreds of tons of silt dug up from tanks in agriculture fields and elsewhere.
The government has opened a door for donors to pay for the revival of tanks and get their names inscribed on plaques. Besides, a publicity drive will launched to involved youth.
“It is an apolitical project. It’s a very gigantic scheme. I need the cooperation of one and all, especially the Centre,” irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, who is overseeing the project, told this newspaper.
Reviving water resources will restore the lifeline of a village and town. Water bodies will also become like the Tank Bund for people. “Reviving tanks is like reviving health.” he said.
In Telangana 85 per cent of cultivated area is rain fed and tank irrigation is the main source for agriculture. A few tanks will be taken up in Hyderabad in places like Kukatpally, Gachibowli, LB Nagar and Vanasthalipuram but the priority is for the rural areas. “Tanks around Hyderabad will be turned into mini tank bunds, a KBR Park-type garden,” Mr Harish Rao said.
The government has firmed up about Rs 5,500 crore this year, including Rs 2,500 crore from the Centre and Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre. Regarding donors, Mr Harish Rao said: “Anyone can adopt a tank which will be named after them if they bear the entire cost, which could range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 3 crore.”
About 30-odd NRIs, industrialists and others have promised to adopt tanks. They will be asked to pay the bills later. The Telangana has decided to seek exemption to donors under Sector 80C of the Income Tax Act. The names of donors putting up more than `1 lakh would be displayed on the Kakatiya Mission website and those contributing up to Rs 10 lakh have their names on plaques at the lake site.
Asked about the Opposition allegations that the scheme was meant to knock away funds, he said the government would maintain complete transparency in tenders and works. “I assure I will try my best to check corruption in Mission Kakatiya. There could be some pilferage, but we will ensure it is minimal. I don‘t want to get into politics now. Let’s not think negatively about a good scheme,” he said.
Experts hold ignorance by government responsible:
Neglect by successive governments is the root cause for destruction of hundreds of water bodies in Telangana state, said R. Vidyasagar Rao, irrigation expert and advisor to the government.
A retired chief engineer of Central Water Commission and now a confidant of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Mr Vidyasagar Rao said the tanks dating back to pre-Satavahana, Kakatiya, Qutub Shahi and Asafjahi eras have been neglected by governments.
“Mission Kakatiya is the need of the hour. Water bodies are a lifeline for any habitation in the world. Sheer negligence has destroyed the much needed water bodies,” he asserts. During Kakatiya era, construction of tanks was carried out with utmost technical expertise. “Tanks resembling seas like Ramappa, Pakhala, Lakavaram, and Bayyaram were built by Kakatiyas which developed agriculture and other sectors and brought prosperity to Kakatiya kingdom,” he explained.
K Chandrasekhar Rao says no to old Personal Assistants
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJun 12, 2014, 7:32 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 1:53 am IST
CM wants fresh faces with no scams, ministers go secretary hunting
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: DC archives)
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asked ministers and other key persons in his government not to hire personal assistants, personal secretaries and PROs who had worked with previous governments.
Mr Rao, who has gone for fresh faces in the CMO, put IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao and other ministers in a quandary since they have recently hired PAs and PSs who had worked with previous ministers.
Sources said that these ministers will now have to let their assistants and secretaries go.
“KCR garu wants a clean, transparent and corruption-free administration. We have been asked not to hire PAs and PSs of previous ministers since many were hit by scams. KCR does not want to carry the old legacy and asked us to go for new faces,” said a minister.
There has been intense lobbying for the posts of PAs, PSs and PROs with ministers and other key functionaries in the government. Some of the applicants were recommended by previous ministers.
“It has come to the notice of the Chief Minister that there is intensive lobbying for the posts. He was furious and asked all ministers to shun the old faces immediately. In fact, many of us have hired people after going through their personal records as well as information from other sources to check their antecedents,” another minister disclosed.
The CM himself has been scouting for fresh faces with clean images for the CMO. He has appointed Coal India chairman, Narsinga Rao, as principal secretary, former PF commissioner, Rajasekhar Reddy, as OSD and Medak Collector, Smita Sabharwal, as additional secretary in the CMO.
Besides the CM, there are two deputy Chief Ministers Md Mahamood Ali and Dr T. Rajaiah and ministers Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Etela Rajender, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, T. Harish Rao, T. Padma Rao Goud, P. Mahender Reddy and K.T. Rama Rao who need the services of PAs and PS.
There are several government officials on deputation who were PAs and PSs to ministers in the Congress government for long.
“There is a huge demand for such posts since it carries a lot of influence. In fact some previous ministers recommend names to the new ministers. Some carry the legacy of corruption, wheeling dealing and fixing,” a senior officer said.
Aasara turns nightmare
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 23, 2014, 7:19 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 5:21 am IST
MLAs face heat from pensioners in their constituencies
Hyderabad: The huge demand for the Telangana government’s much touted Rs 1,000 Aasara pension scheme for the poor is turning out to be a nightmare for ruling party legislators.
Ministers, legislators and ex-legislators, while visiting their Assembly constituencies are accosted by those whose names have either been removed or are missing due to age or other criteria.
The scheme is the most sought after since the government hiked the amount five times from Rs 200 per month. It costs the exchequer about Rs 4,000 crore.
“There are problems especially in the identification of age. Some people claim they are 65 and above, but documents like Aadhaar show they are younger. We are trying to sort out the issue,” said TRS legislator Jeevan Reddy.
To make the most of the situation, Telangana Congress chief Ponnala Laxmaiah has said that the party will collect names of missing pensioners across the state by January 5.
Many ruling party leaders in private admit that the Aasara scheme is proving to be troublesome for the government due to huge demand.
“Once a person gets a pension which could be legal or illegal, it’s difficult to remove his,” said an MLA.
Elections 2014: Telugu Desam Party seals deal with BJP
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedApr 1, 2014, 6:42 am IST
UpdatedApr 8, 2019, 6:48 am IST
BJP secures 8 LS, 45 Assembly seats in Telengana, 5 and 13 in Seemandhra
Hyderabad: After days of often angry haggling, the BJP and the Telugu Desam all but formalised their alliance in New Delhi on Monday.
The BJP Central leadership, which entered the scene after talks failed between its Telangana unit president G. Kishan Reddy and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu and their teams, reportedly agreed to an amicable deal barring some irritants which would be sorted out on Tuesday.
“Talks are still on over some issues. We expect a breakthrough by Tuesday,” Mr Kishan Reddy told this newspaper from New Delhi.
Sources said that the Telugu Desam had agreed to concede 45 Assembly and eight Lok Sabha seats in Telangana and 13 Assembly and five Lok Sabha seats in Seemandhra.There could be few adjustments in the final round of talks, it is learnt.
Sources said that in Telangana, the BJP would contest from the Lok Sabha constituencies of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal (SC), Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Bhongir, Mahbubnagar and Medak.
Earlier, Mr Kishan Reddy and Telangana Telugu Desam leaders led by L. Ramana had gone to New Delhi to put their respective cases before the BJP leadership.
Mr Naidu, who was busy putting final touches to the party manifesto, spoke to BJP president Rajnath Singh and others over the telephone.
Reacting to the developments, Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader Etela Rajender said there were no formal talks with the BJP for an alliance.
“Some BJP leaders expressed the desire to have a truck with the TRS. There is no further development. I think the BJP will sail with the TDP,” he said.
MIM questions Telangana State land regularisation
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 18, 2014, 9:47 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 6:21 am IST
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is quite upset with the MIM’s objections
MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi (Photo: DC archives)
Hyderabad: The TRS government is being given a hard time by its ally MIM over its regularisation scheme.
The government’s much touted land regularisation plan in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district has hit a roadblock with the MIM questioning the rationale in trying to rake up thousands of crores through regularisation of small plots and lands while promising huge tracts of lands for various “cities” for a song.
Sources told this newspaper that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is quite upset with the MIM’s objections and is trying to sort out the issue with the party’s leadership.
Stating that it will not support any “hasty action on regularisation till the reports of the JLC (Joint Legislature Committees) and Task Force are received,” MIM has asked the government to provide details of all government, ceiling surplus, Bhoodan and assigned lands in both Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district, its occupants and alternate regularisation proposals.
“We think it will be unfair to collect thousands of crores from the poor and middle class families in the name of regularisation of government/ULC surplus lands, while the Telangana government is contemplating allotting thousands of acres of lands to private parties for industries, infrastructure projects, pharma city, film city, science city, sports city, smart city and various high profile projects,” stated MIM Floor leader Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi in a letter to the chief minister.
MIM wants the government to allot/auction various lands for the big projects proposed in private sector in a fair and transparent manner by collecting market rates from these high profile allottees rather than giving away prime government land to them at nominal rates.
Quoting the 2011-12 CAG report on land allotment, it said that in 2006-2011 alone, the state government had alienated/allotted 88,492 acre of lands to 1,027 beneficiaries across AP. The audit found that land allotments for commercial purposes were not made in a fair, consistent and transparent manner so as to serve public interest.
According to ULC surplus land data, there are 41,596 encroachments covering 1,17,24,382 square meters of land (2,897 acre) in Hyderabad district while total ULC surplus lands available for regularisation in Ranga Reddy district is 3,452 acre. In contrast, the previous governments in the undivided state had allotted lakhs of acres to industries and private parties.
MIM is also opposed to the setting up of Assembly-level committees comprising MLAs, MLCs, MPs and officials to identify plots, buildings and lands for regularisation since it could earn the wrath of people over payment of regularisation fees or denial of regularisation.
The MIM wants the government to take a holistic view in conjunction with schemes for Building Regularisation Scheme and Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS).
“While the rich (the industrial houses, entrepreneurs and MNCs) get large parcels of government land at throwaway prices, the poor and middle classes cannot be fleeced in the name of regularisation of their plots /houses. We have urged the government to keep the regularisation plan on hold till we get all the details,” said Mr Syed Amin Jafri, MIM MLC.
The party has also urged the government to set up a high-level panel under a retired High Court judge or a retired IAS officer from the minority community to inquire into the encroachments on wakf lands.
Three acre land for poor Dalits
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJul 29, 2014, 5:41 am IST
UpdatedMar 31, 2019, 4:10 pm IST
Telangana government intends to spend Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per beneficiary
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: AFP/Files)
Hyderabad: The much touted TRS government’s free land distribution scheme for Dalits will prioritise the poorest landless Dalits, who will get three acres first, along with a development package.
About three lakh Dalit families of a total of 11.92 lakh (15.44 per cent of the state’s population) will get three acre of land and development schemes tagged to it, in the first phase, it is reliably learnt.
Sources told this newspaper that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was keen on according top priority to landless Dalits first, followed by other Dalits under the scheme.
“Our first priority will be landless Dalits followed by other better off Dalits. Most landless Dalits are agricultural labourers, bonded labour and lead an awfully poor life. It is the desire of the CM to help them first. A survey is already on to identify beneficiaries,” a senior official said.
According to government plans, Dalits in rural areas alone would get the land and not in urban and semi-urban areas, where land is costly. The government intends to spend Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per beneficiary under the scheme, which is the second major scheme to be floated from August 15 after the announcement of the Rs 1 lakh loan waiver scheme.
While a landless poor Dalit will get three acre of land in one place, other SC beneficiaries having small plots of land of half, one and two acre and others shall be provided with the balance to make them land owners for three acre each, in the following phases.
The scheme, including development of the land, will be applicable to all lands purchased under the scheme in the past and in the future. It will include all lands, which are under the possession and cultivation of the Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, including assigned lands, government land assigned, surplus lands assigned, all lands inherited by the Scheduled Castes beneficiaries among others.
Of the Dalit households accounting for 11.92 lakh in the state, 9.2 lakh reside in rural areas, and the rest in semi-urban and urban areas. Of them, landless Dalit number about three lakh.
Besides registering the land in the name of women of the SC household, the government will bear the entire cost of registration fee, stamp duty and other incidental expenses.
A comprehensive package has also been envisaged for development of the land, including irrigation facilities, drip facilities, seed, cost of cultivation, fertilisers, pesticides, ploughing, micro irrigation, energisation, pump sets among others for one crop year.
This is in addition to providing funds for land development, preparation of nursery and agricultural inputs. The amounts for meeting the cost of cultivation etc shall be directly transferred into the beneficiary’s account.
Sources told this newspaper that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was keen on according top priority to landless Dalits first, followed by other Dalits under the scheme.
“Our first priority will be landless Dalits followed by other better off Dalits. Most landless Dalits are agricultural labourers, bonded labour and lead an awfully poor life. It is the desire of the CM to help them first. A survey is already on to identify beneficiaries,” a senior official said.
According to government plans, Dalits in rural areas alone would get the land and not in urban and semi-urban areas, where land is costly. The government intends to spend Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per beneficiary under the scheme, which is the second major scheme to be floated from August 15 after the announcement of the Rs 1 lakh loan waiver scheme.
While a landless poor Dalit will get three acre of land in one place, other SC beneficiaries having small plots of land of half, one and two acre and others shall be provided with the balance to make them land owners for three acre each, in the following phases.
The scheme, including development of the land, will be applicable to all lands purchased under the scheme in the past and in the future. It will include all lands, which are under the possession and cultivation of the Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, including assigned lands, government land assigned, surplus lands assigned, all lands inherited by the Scheduled Castes beneficiaries among others.
Of the Dalit households accounting for 11.92 lakh in the state, 9.2 lakh reside in rural areas, and the rest in semi-urban and urban areas. Of them, landless Dalit number about three lakh.
Besides registering the land in the name of women of the SC household, the government will bear the entire cost of registration fee, stamp duty and other incidental expenses.
A comprehensive package has also been envisaged for development of the land, including irrigation facilities, drip facilities, seed, cost of cultivation, fertilisers, pesticides, ploughing, micro irrigation, energisation, pump sets among others for one crop year.
This is in addition to providing funds for land development, preparation of nursery and agricultural inputs. The amounts for meeting the cost of cultivation etc shall be directly transferred into the beneficiary’s account.
K Chandrasekhar Rao gets party support for Telangana CM post
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedMay 4, 2014, 9:57 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 10:18 am IST
KCR is the hot favourite for the Telangana CM post of TRS comes to power. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: With the party appearing confident of winning a majority in the elections for the Telangana Assembly, TRS leaders are now drumming up support for party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao to be first Chief Minister of the new state.
The party leaders’ statement is to be seen in the context of Mr Rao’s promise of make a Dalit leader as the first Chief Minister, and a minority leader as the deputy CM. Party leaders are saying that the situation has changed now, and only Mr Rao should be the CM.
The UPA government had given “conditional Telangana” and a strong leader was needed to fight for justice and ensure development of the region, they argue.
New entrant Nomula Narasimhaiah, who migrated to the TRS from the CPM and contested the elections from the Nagarjunasagar Assembly seat, backed Mr Rao to be Chief Minister to ensure that the promises made by the party are fulfilled.
“He alone can ensure implementation of all the promises and solve pending issues,” Mr Narasimhaiah said here on Saturday.
“The party wholeheartedly backs KCR as CM. He is the right choice. He cannot say no to the party decision though he is the party chief,” Mr Narasimhaiah remarked.
He also hit back at actor Pawan Kalyan for his comments that the demand for Telangana statehood was a fallout of the corruption in the YSR government.
“He (Pawan Kalyan) was not even born when the movement started. He should get his facts right,” Mr Narasimhaiah said. “If Pawan thinks politics is a three-hour cinema, people will teach him a fitting lesson,” he remarked.
Mr Narasimhaiah asked, “He could not question his brother (Chiranjeevi) how can one expect him to question Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Chandrababu Naidu if the promises are not implemented? The people also don’t trust him. He is childish.”
Asked about his party’s CM candidate, former TRS floor leader Etela Rajender said: “Our party MLAs, the TRS legislature party will take a decision.”
He said the TRS would run a “people friendly government and try to solve all the pending issues.”
Stars favour Narendra Modi, Telengana Rashtriya Samiti
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedApr 1, 2014, 9:40 am IST
UpdatedApr 8, 2019, 6:40 am IST
Modi’s stars are very bright and no one can stop him , predicts a astrologer
Narendra Modi
Hyderabad: According to astrologers, the coming year will see BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi occupying the top post, YSRC winning 140-145 seats in Seemandhra and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu faring well too.
Pundits who read out the Panchanga Shravanam on the occasion of Jaya Nama Samvastram, the first Ugadi celebrations after the bifurcation of the state, at the party offices of the TDP, the YSRC, the Congress, the BJP and others, foretold the leaders of success in their endeavors.
TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao celebrated Ugadi at home and there was no official function held at the Telangana Bhavan.
Astrologer and numerologist Rammgopaall has been consistently predicting a big win for the TRS in Telangana.
Santosh Kumar Sastry, astrologer and Vedic scholar from Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district, predicted a bright future for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
“Modi’s stars are very bright. He is strong and has the capacity and power to occupy the top post. He will reach the pinnacle of glory. No one can stop his success. People will benefit under his rule,” said Mr Sastry.
For Telugu Desam president, Mr Naidu, too, the stars are bright; but the astrologer refrained from making political predictions except wishing him all success.
“Going by Mr Naidu’s personal profile, his stars are bright,” astrologer Srinivas Gargeya said.
He also predicted instability, unrest in Telangana and Seemandhra, problems for rulers, natural calamities between September 17 and October 17.
Meanwhile astrologer Srinivas Murthy, at Ugadi celebrations in Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee office, Indira Bhavan, said that all parties were passing through turmoil and the year would be mix of “sweet and sour”.
Union minister K. Chiranjeevi, who graced the occasion, asked party leaders and cadres to be optimistic in the coming polls. “Don’t give up hope. Let us live in hope and expect success,” he said.
Interestingly, the Congress sources said that the astrologer was requested to avoid election predictions.
Former chief minister and president of Jai Samaikyandhra Party N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who performed a puja at his party office along with party leaders, hoped that the new year would bring happiness and prosperity for Telugus around the world.
“I believe that Telugus will always be united and no one can divide a united Andhra,” he said.
KCR rejects Modi, hints at post poll alliance with Congress
DC | C R GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedApr 29, 2014, 10:46 am IST
UpdatedApr 1, 2019, 11:17 am IST
'Telugu Desam, BJP will make Hyderabad Union Territory'
K Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: DC archives)
Hyderabad: In surprise comments ahead of the April 30 polls in Telangana, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said he was ready to support Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi if he seeks his help to become Prime Minister.
Speaking to TV channels, Mr Rao said the TRS would never back the BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Mr Narendra Modi. He picked on an interview to a local newspaper in which Mr Modi had said he would make Hyderabad the second capital.
He said that Mr Modi, Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu would make anti-Telangana comments or promise to make Hyderabad a Union Territory or second capital after polling in Telangana concludes on April 30, with an eye on votes in Seemandhra which goes to the polls on May 7.
He asked the people of Telangana to defeat Mr Modi and the TD-BJP combine since their victory would be a “death warrant” for Hyderabad TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, ruled out support to Narendra Modi-led BJP at the Centre.
“We won’t support. No question,” he said in response to a query on whether he would back Mr Modi. On the Congress vice-president, Mr Rai said: “100 per cent. If he (Rahul Gandhi) becomes Prime Minister with my support, 100 per cent I will be the first person to support him.”
When it was pointed out he was fighting the Congress in Telangana, he quipped, “Can’t help. That’s politics.”
Asked who could be next PM, he said from the present “equation and situation” he said out of his little experience in politics, its neither Mr Gandhi nor Mr Modi, but some other face represented by the Third Front. “Rahul is yet to mature. He cannot be compared with Sonia,” he remarked to another query.
Despite rejecting merger, alliance with Congress and asserting its fight between Congress and TRS in Telangana, KCR praised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
“I can’t lie, I have some good regard for Sonia Gandhi. Definitely I have to say that because of her initiative Telangana has come and was possible. I openly say it. He added, “She is the main reason behind formation of Telangana. But the arrogant approach of second rung leaders played spoilsport over alliance with the TRS.”
Asked what went wrong over alliance with Congress, TRS chief blamed it on arrogant second rung leaders in Congress. “I spoke to Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Jairam Ramesh and the latter came to my place in New Delhi. But all of a sudden I found serious criticism on me in newspapers. I was surprised,” he said.
Mr Rao said he was not against Andhras and there was no need for Seemandhra people to be insecure in Hyderabad and Telangana region.
“I am very clear in my mind. I am a progressive thinker. I want Telangana should flourish, develop. I am not against people of Andhra. Jo khana kamane ke liya aye unse hamara jung nahi hai. Jo hamara khana loot ne ke liye aya unse hamara jung hai (Our war is not against those who come here for eke livelihood, but against those looting us).”
To another question, he said Mr Modi played into the hands of wrong people and fell into the trap of Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Mr Chandrababu Naidu. “I don’t know why he killed himself in Telangana,” he said.
Mr Rao who spoke to a national, a regional TV channel and at a series of public meetings before winding up his electioneering on Monday, asked the people to ensure a big win for TRS in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls to ensure a “golden Telangana.”
KCR: Can’t give law, order to Guv
Deccan Chronicle · 9 Aug 2014 ·
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER | DC
The Telangana government is heading for a confrontation with the Centre over the latter’s
decision to hand over over law and order to the Governor in Hyderabad.
Furious over the Centre’s decision, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has written to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh that it will not be possible to
hand over law and order, a state subject, to the Governor.
The CM was reacting soon after the chief secretary received a “final letter” from the Ministry
of Home Affairs to the state on handing over law and order to the Governor on Friday.
“We
will not be able to implement the Centre’s directive. This is the message of the CM to the Centre,” a senior official said.
Accusing Mr Modi of behaving like a “fascist”, Mr Rao said he
would soon convene a meeting of the CMs of various states against the Centre’s infrin-gement of Constitutional rights of the state and blatant interference in state affairs.
Mr Rao,
who is away in his farmhouse, had asked the chief secretary to write a strong letter to the
Centre opposing its move. “The CM is angry over the Centre’s decision to bring law and order
in Hyderabad under the control of the Governor. He has decided to organise a conference of
CMs to oppose interference in state affairs,” a senior government official told DC.
As per the letter to the state government, the Governor shall have power to call for any record
or information or decision of the Council of Ministers or any authority relating to the responsibilities envisaged under Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act.
The Commissioners of police of Hyderabad and Cyberabad, as well as the SP of Ranga Reddy
district, shall furnish periodical reports of law and order to the Governor in addition to special
reports on all grave and especially grave crimes in the common capital area.
There have been concerted attempts by Seemandhra leaders to ensure that law and order in
Hyderabad is kept under the control of the governor as per the provisions in the AP Reorganisation Act.
However, Mr Rao had stoutly opposed the same after the Bill was passed in Parliament.
CM calls Modi a fascist, rejects directive
Though there had been rumours that the powers would be vested with the Governor a month
back, it had been kept on hold.
However, the Centre decided to go ahead due to a series of actions of the Telangana government, including the proposed intensive household survey, the decision not to reimburse fees
to students from Seemandhra, taking over of the agricultural university and a spate of demolitions in Ayyappa Society Madhapur, LB Nagar and other areas, which was opposed by Seemandhra leaders. The nativity issue with the 1956 cut-off date for fee reimbursement too
kicked up a furore.
K Chandrasekhar Rao plans to make Singareni Collieries a Telangana company
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJul 22, 2014, 7:18 am IST
UpdatedMar 31, 2019, 5:46 pm IST
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC archives)
Hyderabad: Telangana government is contemplating taking over State-Centre jointly owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and turn it into a global company.
The state’s move is in tune with the Centre’s disinvestment policy.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao approved a special Telangana increment to the Singareni workers and employees besides treating the “Sakala Janula Samme” strike period for Telangana by the staff as leave.
Mr Rao told officials to improve hygiene conditions, canteen facilities etc. within the next three months.
The Singareni Collieries is the country’s largest government coal mining company jointly owned by the government of Telangana and the government of India on a 51:49 equity basis.
The Singareni coal reserves stretch across 350 km of the Pranahita Godavari valley of Telangana with proven geological reserves aggregating to 8791 million tonnes.
The SCCL is currently operating 15 opencast and 34 underground mines in four districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam with manpower of around 62,805.
The company produced 53.190 million metric tonnes of coal, earning a revenue of Rs 10,311.73 crore the in last fiscal.
The Chief Minister said he would inaugurate one or two underground mines before Dasara. The Singareni Collieries Company should also begin the process of starting six more underground mines projects to create more employment, this year, he added.
The senior officials assured the Chief Minister that thermal power plants of 600 MW each initiated by them would be ready by November 15, 2015.
The Chief Minister suggested working out strategies to meet the growing demands of coal and said that Singareni Company should explore the possibilities of mining outside the state and country.
He okayed 1,500 acres of Singareni Collieries land at Ramagundam for the purpose of setting up new units. He also okayed 400 acres in Ramagundam and 2,000 acres at Manuguru for the new power units.
Asking officials to ensure Singareni gets a corporate look, he directed company officials to establish four super specialty hospitals in the Singareni mining districts of Khammam, Warangal, Adilabad and Karimnagar.
He also said that by making use of the four super specialty hospitals the company could also open a medical college in due course.
Beacons of consolation
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 24, 2014, 6:54 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 5:08 am IST
Hyderabad: Hyderabad city and Telangana will soon see a spurt in cars with blaring sirens and blazing beacons thanks to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s largess.
With the CM granting “Cabinet rank” posts to those who missed out on Cabinet berths in the recent reshuffle, 36 MLAs, almost half of TRS’ strength of 63 will now have vehicles with beacons.
The CM, 15 Cabinet ministers, the Speaker, deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, four whips, four parliamentary secretaries already had cars with beacons.
Singer and chairman of Telangana Samskrutika Sarathi Rasamayi Balakishan and chairman of Telangana State SC Corporation Pidamarthi Ravi are also in the list.
The new VIPs with beacons include S. Niranjan Reddy, deputy chairman, Telangana State Planning Commission, Ghanta Chakrapani, chairman, Telangana State Public Service Commission, MLAs V. Srinivas Goud, Jalagam Venkat Rao, Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, Kova Laxmi, and the parliamentary secretaries.
As per rule 314 of the AP Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, the CM, all ministers, chairman of the State Planning Board, Speaker, deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, chairman and vice-chairman of the Legislative Council are permitted to use blue beacons.
Sensing trouble over appointments of T. Srinivas Yadav and Tummala Nageswara Rao over those who had stood by the party, the CM announced a series of Cabinet-rank posts.
Firstly, Mr Rao appointed Dalit leader and MLA Koppula Eshwar as Chief Whip and three other MLAs, Gampa Goverdhan, Nalalla Odelu and G. Sunitha as whips, who will also get blue beacons.
“It is clear that the CM wants to keep ministerial aspirants happy with these posts. Many TRS leaders are upset over recent inclusions in the Cabinet, especially of the two leaders from Hyderabad and Khammam. It hurt many of us,” said a TRS leader.
Erragadda land may be converted into parade ground, suggests Telangana CM
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 21, 2014, 9:53 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 5:45 am IST
CM K Chandrasekhar Rao said chest, mental hospitals can be shifted out
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s roving eye for land for mega projects has landed on Erragadda in Hyderabad.
If Mr Rao has his way, the 65-acre land belonging to the Nizamera TB and Chest Hospital and the 45 acres belonging to the famed ‘Mental Hospital’ — the Institute of Mental Health —at Erragadda could be converted into the Telangana parade ground.
Sources said the Chief Minister during his recent interaction with political parties mentioned that the two hospitals could be shifted to the TB Sanatorium at Vikarabad, 70 km from Hyderabad, and the land could be utilised for the parade ground.
“The CM suggested why not shift TB Hospital and the Mental Hospital to Vikarabad and utilise the land for parade ground for TS. I don’t know why since we have the Parade Ground in Secunderabad which is under the control of the defence authorities,” said a legislator.
Mr Rao also created a stir announcing the shift of the Chanchalguda Central Jail.
MIM bat for Metro in old city west
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedDec 14, 2014, 6:59 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 7:12 am IST
East old city already has MMTS; extend it to the west side, says Akbar
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi (Photo: PTI)
Hyderabad: The Metro Rail project, caught in several twists and turns as it inches towards its goal, is yet again trapped in the route issue in the old city.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeem is opposed to the Metro Rail on the eastern side of the old city like Malakpet, Chaderghat, Falaknuma and others on the route since it is served by MMTS and suburban services.
Instead, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has suggested an alternate route on the eastern side beyond Nampally railway station covering areas like Goshamahal, Begum Bazaar, Muslim Jung Bridge, Puranapul and other adjoining areas.
MIM feels its route should cover highly populated areas like Osmania and Maternity Hospital, High Court, Salarjung Museum, Chudi Bazaar, Jumerat Bazaar, Begum Bazaar, Petla Burj, Hussaini Alam, Puranapul, Bahadurpura, Kamatipura, Tadbun, Jahanuma and others.
This proposal will affect existing Metro Rail- Miyapur to LB Nagar and Jubilee Bus station to Falaknuma corridors.
The MIM informed the government that the existing Metro route would affect over 1,000 structures including 40 mosques, 10 temples, 11 heritage structures, seven Asoorkhanas.
“The metro rail is not at all needed on the eastern side of the old city because it is already served by MMTS and suburban train services,” Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi told the government.
“MIM favours a metro line on the western side beyond Nampally since the area is not served by a rail link,” Syed Amin Jafri, MIM MLC told Deccan Chronicle.
The Rs 14,132 crore Metro project has three corridors, but only two corridors Miyapur-LB Nagar with 27 stations and Jubilee Bus station to Falaknuma of 16 stations touch the old city.
Harish breaks mike as MLAS fight over T
BJP, Left air views on T-resolution
Deccan Chronicle · 19 Sep 2012
· C.R. GOWRI SHANKER and N. VAMSI SRINIVAS | DC HYDERABAD, SEPT. 18
In an unexpected move, floor leaders of most parties in the Assembly on Tuesday ended up giving their opinion on introducing a resolution recommending the formation of Telangana state.
The Telugu Desam did not need to take a stand as the Speaker adjourned the House amid chaos.
The move came within a day of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy rejecting outright the demand for introducing a resolution. The exercise, however, remained inconclusive as the House plunged into chaos with TRS legislator T. Harish Rao uprooting the mike and independent MLA N. Janardhan Reddy and To break the deadlock, the Speaker initially allowed TRS floor leader E. Rajender to appeal to other parties to support the resolution on Telangana.
But, the BJP, Left and Janardhan Reddy went on to air their views. ministers D. Nagender and M. Mukesh Goud engaging in a verbal duel.
On Tuesday, as soon as the House convened, TRS and BJP members rushed to the podium and demanded the Telangana resolution. To break the deadlock, the Speaker initially allowed TRS floor leader E. Rajender to appeal to other parties to support the resolution. Other floor leaders later got a chance to express their views.
The Speaker reminded the members repeatedly that what he sought was the opinion of parties on ending the impasse but the BJP, Left and Mr Janardhan Reddy went ahead and aired their views on the resolution.
The YSR Congress sought to play it safe with Y.S. Vijayalakshmi leaving it to the Business Advisory Committee to decide on whether or not to take up the resolution. The Telugu Desam was spared of the embarrassing situation of expressing its view on a Tresolution as the House was adjourned before the party’s turn came.
Parties gear up for GHMC polls
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedMay 1, 2015, 6:24 am IST
UpdatedMar 29, 2019, 7:52 am IST
TRS looks to open its account in GHMC polls as CM rolls out big plans
Hyderabad: The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), MIM, BJP, Telugu Desam (TD), Congress and other parties are gearing up for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections following the High Court’s directive to the Telangana state government to hold elections by December 15.
With an eye on the polls, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has announced massive developmental programmes in the city and surrounding areas, which fall under the Corporation.
Sources said that the CM has asked the GHMC to focus on recarpeting of roads, improving streetlights, drinking water and other pending developmental works in Patancheru and Ramachandrapuram of Medak district that fall under the GHMC limits and also in all old municipalities surrounding Hyderabad including Malkajgiri, Uppal, Kapra, Rajendranagar, Kukatpally etc. where people are unhappy with basic amenities, especially roads and drinking water.
Mr Rao, who wants to project the successful power-cut free summer, wants officials to complete the pending works before the announcement of the GHMC polls.
Besides Swachh Hyderabad and Telangana, high-rise buildings, sky ways, surveillance cameras all over the city to ensure law and order, 150 vegetable and meat markets and recarpeting of roads, the CM wants to promote the new Telangana Kalabharathi at NTR Stadium, which will house multiple theatres.
Home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy said they would focus on various developmental works after the political training classes, being held at Nagarjunasagar from May 1 to 4, get over.
The CM a held series of meetings with city ministers — Deputy CM Mahmood Ali, home minister Narasimha Reddy, excise minister T. Padma Rao, commercial taxes minister T. Srinivas Yadav and others — and asked them to gear up for elections.
The TRS, which had zero strength in the last GHMC body, is now in an upbeat mood with the defection of several TD MLAs and the recent success of the party plenary and Vijay Garjana meetings.
Not to be outdone, TD is contemplating holding the party Mahanadu in Hyderabad with an eye on the GHMC elections. The TD, which had 45 corporators in the outgoing corporation, is confident of winning a large number of seats thanks to the huge Seemandhra population, according to party leaders.
The BJP too is confident of winning a good number of seats in GHMC after the victory of its candidate, N. Ramachandra Rao, in the Graduates MLC polls.
World-class city in three years, vows Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedApr 28, 2015, 8:11 am IST
UpdatedMar 29, 2019, 8:36 am IST
Hyderabad: Asking “kirkiri (quarrelsome) leader” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to mind his own business and not to meddle in the affairs of Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday vowed to implement every promise he had made and sought the people's support in making a Bangaru Telangana and Hyderabad a world class city in three to three-and-a-half years.
“I had asked you to stone me to death if I deviated from the Telangana movement. I achieved it through your support. Now, I need your support in making a Bangaru Telangana. I will make your dreams come true. But beware of foxes,” he said, while addressing “Vijaya Garjana”, the mammoth public meeting at the Secunderabad Parade Ground named for the occasion after late Telangana ideologue Prof. Jayashanker.
The TRS had celebrated the party’s first plenary in the new state on April 24 and its 14th anniversary on Monday at the jam-packed Parade Grounds.
TRS leaders claimed that over 10 lakh people attended the meeting and a large number of them were stuck en route due to traffic jams. After a sober speech at the plenary, Mr Rao lashed out at Mr Naidu and other opponents calling some of them gunta nakkalu (foxes) waiting to harm Telangana.
Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao cracks the whip on officials
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJan 14, 2015, 1:06 pm IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 12:55 am IST
KCR replaces Warangal collector for poor show, begins exercise to tone administration
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: PTI/File)
Hyderabad: After the reality check during his four-day camp at Warangal, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has begun an exercise to tone up the administration.
Almost immediately after his return, Mr Rao reshuffled the bureaucracy, replacing, among others, Warangal collector Kishan with V. Karuna. Sources said some senior TRS functionaries had been giving a good certificate to Mr Kishan.
But when Mr Rao went to Warangal, he was literally hounded by the poor who were demanding pensions and were complaining of denial of welfare measures. He also had to hear a number of complaints regarding lack of basic facilities.
A senior TRS leader said, “The CM’s four-day visit to Warangal proved to be a big eye- opener. He got a feel of the harsh realities at the ground level regarding the implementation of welfare schemes, non-availability of basic facilities and other problems.”
This is not the first time that Mr Rao has shunted out an IAS officer following complaints. Hours after he pulled up officials for delaying permission to multinational companies, he transferred Mr Neerabh Kumar out from his post as HMDA commissioner.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister held a series of review meetings at the Secretariat and then went to the National Academy of Construction near Hitec City with a team of officials for a brainstorming exercise. Welfare, administrative and developmental issues were on the agenda, sources said.
“This is the first time any Chief Minister had camped in Warangal district for four days and tried to solve the problems being faced by people. KCR is the only leader to have toured all districts. It shows the government’s commitment to improve the lot of the people,” said T. Harish Rao, minister for irrigation.
Netas race to please CM
Deccan Chronicle · 27 Jan 2015 · C.R. GOWRI SHANKER | DC
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was cynosure of Cabinet colleagues, legislators and others at the 66th Republic Day celebrations at Secunderabad Parade Grounds on Monday.
Sacking of former health minister T. Rajaiah from the Cabinet seem to have sent shivers down
the spine of ministers.
Immediately after Mr Rao arrived, Speaker Madhusudhana Chary, Council chairman Swami
Goud, ministers A. Indra Karan Reddy, T. Padma Rao, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Etela Rajender, T. Srinivas Yadav and others made a beeline to CM.
Armoor TRS MLA Jeevan Reddy went a
step further and tried to touch his feet, but CM withdrew.
As others tried to make a beeline, an embarrassed CM sitting with chief Secretary Rajiv
Sharma got up and went up to the box where other ministers T. Harish Rao, K.T. Rama Rao
were seated.
Transport minister P. Mahender Reddy reached the venue very late and was hesitant to greet CM initially.
Political parties on membership overdrive in Telangana
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJan 19, 2015, 7:17 am IST
UpdatedMar 30, 2019, 12:08 am IST
Congress has set ambitious membership target of 35 lakh
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: If ambitious membership targets of political parties are to be taken seriously, almost one third of Telangana’s population will be a member of some party or the other.
All major political parties, the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, BJP and Telangana Rashtra Samithi have set ambitious membership targets ever to strengthen the party in all the districts and make it poll battle ready by 2019.
Telangana’s population is about 3.63 crore, according to a latest report. Men constitute 1.81 crore while women number 1.80 crore which comes to about 3.61 crore.
Major parties like the Congress has set ambitious membership target of 35 lakh, TD 10 lakh, BJP 35 lakh and the TRS 37.70 lakh totalling a whopping 1.17 crore — almost one-third of TS population.
CM eyes more TD MLAs
Deccan Chronicle · 25 Jan 2015 ·
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER | DC HYDERABAD, JAN. 24
The TRS leadership is eyeing more MLAs and prominent leaders from the TD in a bid to
weaken it in the GHMC area and Telangana.
Telugu Nadu Students Federation president Anjaneya Goud quit the TD and joined the TRS in
the presence of finance minister Etela Rajender on Saturday.
Some more GHMC corporators and TD leaders are expected to join the TRS. The finance minister asked other TD leaders to reconsider staying with TD conspirators and work against Telangana’s interests or join Telangana people.
TRS sources say at least half a dozen TD legislators are being wooed in GHMC limits and other
parts of Telangana. Some are willing to join the TRS and some are cats on the wall.
The TRS is
reportedly eyeing Kukatpally MLA Krishna Rao, Serilingampally MLA A. Gandhi, Rajendranagar MLA Prakash Goud, Ibrahimpatnam MLA Kishan Reddy (all from Ranga Reddy), Cantonment MLA Sayanna and Qutballapur MLA Vivekananda among others.
But the MLAs have refuted the rumours of joining TRS.
“Many TD MLAs in Telangana are angry since every action of Mr Naidu against TS is putting
them in the dock. The ruling TRS is the only option for them,” a TRS legislator said.
Finance minister Etela Rajender lambasted Telangana TD. “Do we need TD in Telangana
which is against the Telangana people? For a few bucks leaders like E. Dayakar Reddy, Revanth Reddy are hatching a conspiracy against the TS people on behalf of Naidu,” he alleged.
TD men must reconsider staying in party against TS: FM
No need for Section 8: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to Governor
DECCAN CHRONICLE | C. R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJun 24, 2015, 10:04 am IST
UpdatedMar 28, 2019, 7:00 pm IST
Telangana CM said the situation in city and state has been peaceful since bifurcation
Telangana C Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Tuesday
Hyderabad: An upset Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday called on Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and informed him that the city of Hyderabad, and Telangana state, were quite peaceful since bifurcation.
Law and order was a state subject and the situation did not warrant implementation of Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
The meeting assumes significance in view of Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi advising the Governor to step in when there was a dispute between Telangana and AP over jurisdiction of the joint capital of Hyderabad and related issues, including the cash-for-vote case.
However, highly-placed sources refuted any such advice from the A-G or the Union home ministry to the Raj Bhavan. “Why will the Attorney-General give advice to the Governor directly? He will give to the Union home ministry if asked. So far, there has been no such advice from the A-G to the home ministry or from the Union home ministry to the Raj Bhavan,” the source said.
There were also reports in the media that CMs and other national leaders had spoken to Mr Rao and promised to lodge protests with the Centre if TS was deprived of powers over Hyderabad.
KCR asks Chandrababu Naidu to stop meddling in Telangana
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJun 9, 2015, 7:54 am IST
UpdatedMar 28, 2019, 10:50 pm IST
Rao said the Telangana ACB had control in Hyderabad and not the AP ACB
Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: PTI/File)
Hyderabad: Calling Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu “Andhra gunta nakka (fox)”, Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao asserted that even Brahma could not save him.
Attacking Mr Naidu for “meddling” in Telangana affairs and for trying to purchase MLAs in the MLC elections despite lacking numbers, Mr Rao said it was the Telangana police and government that held sway over Hyderabad and not the AP government or its police.
“Naidu says in a meeting in Andhra that he has been framed in the ACB case. Can we fix a shrewd and cunning leader like Chandrababu Naidu? He fixes people but never gets fixed. He will destroy others’ homes but not his home,” the CM said.
Mr Rao said, “What is he saying? He says he was falsely implicated in the case. He did everything. A person from the neighbouring state comes here and tries to buy ruling party MLAs to ensure victory of their MLCs and we have to keep quiet with folded hands? We should be silent?” he said.
“We should not call a person who commits robbery a thief. We should not catch him. You have seen how they were exposed on TV. Did you see or not,” he asked the crowd who replied in the affirmative. “He was caught red-handed. Why will we fix him,” the CM said.
Mr Rao said, “Naidu says ‘KCR and I have the same rights on Hyderabad’. Is Hyderabad his abba jagir? Does it belong to his tata? You are not CM of Hyderabad, Telangana bidda is CM.”
Mr Rao added that the Telangana ACB had control in Hyderabad and not the AP ACB or DGP. “You (Mr Naidu) have been caught with your pants down. Now you are creating a ruckus. You have been exposed from galli to Delhi. Your lucha and lathkor antics have been exposed.”
“He says he has ACB too in Hyderabad, but he should remember, KCR is not a thief like him. I don’t indulge in dirty politics. I am asking Chandrababu Naidu, why did he get into the election when he had no strength? He wanted to purchase MLAs, indulge in dirty politics. He destroyed politics. Telan-gana bidda Stephenson lodged a complaint and your MLA is in jail. You are exposed, your phone conversation has come out and you are not innocent. You have been caught red handed.”
KCR invites Modi & co.
BIG PLANS FOR D-DAY
Deccan Chronicle · 1 Jun 2014 ·
C.R. GOWRI SHANKER | DC HYDERABAD, MAY 31
Telangana Chief Minister designate K. Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to personally invite
Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an exclusive function to inaugurate the new state of Telangana, about a fortnight after June 2.
Mr Rao had decided against inviting Mr Modi to the Formation Day festivities on Monday as
there is no Telangana administration in place right now.
Mr Rao will take oath as the first Chief Minister of Telangana at 8.15 am on June 2 at Raj Bhavan, along with a 12- to 15strong team, which will be expanded later.
He will be administered the oath of office by E.S.L. Narasimhan, who himself would be swornin as Telangana Governor at 6.15 am on Monday.
“KCR garu will maintain cordial relationship with the Centre and seek its support for the development of Telangana,” a close aide of Mr Rao said.
It is learnt that Mr Rao, when he calls on Mr Modi would submit a wish list, seeking support
for the new state. More specificalKCR had decided against inviting Modi to the Formation Day festivities as there is no Telangana administration in place right now
He seeks to maintain cordial relations with the Centre and help to fulfil the various promises
in the TRS manifesto
ly, Mr Rao will seek help from the Centre to fulfil the TRS manifesto promises like waiver of
farm loans up to `1 lakh, twobedroom houses for the weaker sections, funding for irrigation
projects, and declaring the Pranahita Chevella irrigation project as a national project.
KCR jibe: Andhra dodges tax
7 Aug 2012
Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has rather controversially accused the people of the Seemandhra region of evading taxes.
Paying handsome tributes to the late Prof. Jayashanker on the occasion of his jayanti at the Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Mr Chandr-
Revenue from 9 Telangana districts is more than that from 13 Seemandhra districts –– K. Chandrasekhar Rao TRS president
asekhar Rao said that economic experts like himself, Prof. Hanumantha Rao, B.P.R. Vittal and oth- ers, who collaborated for a study, had found that 10 Telangana districts with a population of three crore people generated 72 per cent of the revenues of the state, while 13 Seemandhra districts with a 5.5 crore population contributed only 28 per cent of the revenue to the state exchequer.
“I was surprised. I had asked Prof. Jayashankar to thoroughly check the revenue figures again. They came out the same. Even if we remove Hyderabad, the revenue from nine Telangana districts is more than the 13 Seemandhra districts,” Mr Chandrasekhar Rao claimed.
The main reason for such a vast difference in tax collection is that most people in Andhra region evade taxes, he continued.
Accusing the people of the Seemandhra region of evading taxes, TRS president K. Chadrasekhar Rao said, “Don't they use brush, soaps etc., for which one has to pay sales tax (VAT)? People from the Telangana region pay taxes honestly and are more law-abiding. The state is surviving on taxes paid by Telangana people,” Mr Chandrasekhar Rao averred.
The TRS leader also dismissed the Justice Srikrishna Committee report which stated that 40 lakh people of Andhra origin live in Hyderabad.
“Are there Telangana people in Hyderabad or not? Or did they migrate to Mumbai? Can anyone believe such a b******* report,” he asked.
He said the late Prof. Jayashankar had reviewed all the budgets, distribution of river water, and jobs and had found that a great injustice has been done to Telangana.
Taking potshots at the cultural hegemony of Andhras, he said that Adi Kavi was not Nannayya but Palakurthy Somanathudu, and that Andhra people who had ' Andhra Mata' changed it to 'Telugu Talli'.
“Who wants Telugu Talli? We have our own Talli, Telangana,” he remarked.
2019 Lok Sabha polls: Loyalty change, tickets for kin dominate LS ballgame
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | CR GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedMar 23, 2019, 12:54 am IST
UpdatedMar 23, 2019, 12:54 am IST
Dynastic politics is alive and kicking in all parties.
K. Kavita
Hyderabad: Elections in the Telugu states are marked by two things: the swift change in loyalties of established party leaders, and tickets being given to the kin of political leaders.
Dynastic politics is alive and kicking in all parties as established politicians strive to get their relatives tickets to contest Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections in Telangana state.
“It is me or my family. Malaise has hit all parties. Party leaders and cadre who toiled are hurt, but have little choice. There will be repercussions,” remarked a senior TRS leader.
Says a Telugu Desam leader, “If I am not wrong, relatives of over 70-80 political leaders are in the fray in Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu Desam, YSRC, Jana Sena and BJP in Andhra Pradesh have also seen the largest number of turncoats.”
Those who have abandoned their parties expecting rewards have not been disappointed. TD leader Nama Nageswara Rao joined the TRS overnight and bagged the Khammam Lok Sabha ticket replacing sitting TRS MP Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy. A novice, Talasani Kiran Yadav, son of animal husbandry and cinematography minister Srinivas Yadav, who is also the Sanathnagar MLA, got the Secunder-abad Lok Sabha ticket leaving TRS leaders stumped.
Mayor Bonthu Ramamo-han’s wife Sridevi and several other party leaders tried to get tickets for themselves or their relatives but failed.
In Telangana, K. Kavita, daughter of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, has been re-nominated for the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat. Ms Maloth Kavitha, daughter of Dornakal TRS MLA D.S. Redya Naik, got the Mahbubabad ticket in place of sitting MP Prof. Ajmeera Seetharam Naik.
The TRS Malkajgiri Lok Sabha ticket went to Marri Rajasekhar Reddy, son-in-law of labour minister and Medchal MLA Ch Malla Reddy.
Mr Malla Reddy won the Malkajgiri parliamentary seat on a Telugu Desam ticket in 2014 and later defected to the TRS.
The BJP gave its Nizambad Lok Sabha ticket to Dharmapuri Arvind, son of TRS Rajya Sabha MP, D Srinivas, and the Nagarkurnool LS ticket to Bangaru Sruthi, daughter of former BJP national president Bangaru Laxman.
MIM leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi filed nominations for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat — Akbaruddin as standby for Asaduddin.
The first family is strong in both states. In Telangana state, Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao is Gajwel MLA, his son and TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao represents Sircilla in the Assembly, Mr Rao's nephew T. Harish Rao represents Siddipet in the Assembly and daughter K. Kavitha has been re-nominated for the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat.
In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister and TD supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu is contesting from Kuppam Assembly constituency, his son Lokesh from Mangalagiri Assembly constituency, his brother-in-law and actor Balakrishna from Hindupur and his other son in-law, M. Bharat, is contesting the Vizag Lok Sabha seat.
YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy is contesting from Pulivend-ula and his cousin Avinash Reddy from Kadapa for the Lok Sabha polls.
Jana Sena chief Pavan Kalyan, promising clean politics, is contesting from two Assembly constituencies, Bhimavaram in West Godavari and Gajuwaka in Vizag, while his elder brother and actor Nagababu is standing for the Lok Sabha from Narsapuram.
K Chandrasekhar Rao's plan to make Congress disappear appears on track
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | CR GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedMar 16, 2019, 1:45 am IST
UpdatedMar 16, 2019, 3:43 am IST
Conflict within Congress aids ruling party attempt to weaken its ranks.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s ‘Congress Mukt Telangana’ campaign is gradually whittling down the main opposition party. This is partly the TPCC’s own making due to their internal squabbles and sulking leaders, if some Congress leaders are to be believed.K. Chandrasekhar Rao
The TRS and Congress circles indicate that there could be more desertions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Eight Congress MLAs have jumped ship, the latest being the Mahesharam MLA Ms. Sabitha Indra Reddy, the L. B. Nagar MLA Mr. D. Sudhir Reddy, and Mr. Vamana Nageswara Rao from Kothagudem.
There are rumours that claim that the Yellareddy MLA Mr Jajula Surender would join the TRS bandwagon, though senior Congress leader Mohd Ali Shabbir denies it.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Sudhir Reddy had told this newspaper that he hadn’t taken any decision on quitting the party.
“Two days ago, somebody called me and wanted to meet me. I told them I am busy. That’s all. Right now I am in Apollo hospital for a checkup with family,” Sudhir Reddy said.
However, Mr. Shabbir Ali said, “It’s a mind game played by Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao. They(Mr. Sudhir Reddy and Mr. Surender) are not quitting the party.” Later in the day, Mr. Sudhir Reddy met the TRS Working President Mr. K. T. Rama Rao, and jumped ship.
Every turncoat into the TRS asserts that they were “impressed by Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s development strides and want to develop their own constituencies.”
Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr Rama Rao have formed a potent combination and are sending shivers into the opposition camp.
“It’s Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao’s gameplan to deny the Congress the opposition status in the Assembly. The rule states that 12 MLAs are required to obtain the opposition status. He is successful thanks partly to our own shortcomings,” a senior Congress leader said.
Congress has lost the opposition status in the Legislative Council after defections to the TRS.
Party sources claim that Ms Sabitha Indra Reddy, Mr Sudhir Reddy, and several other leaders, especially those from the Reddy community, are upset with the party leadership.
Some claim that the spirit of Mr. Y S. Rajasekhar Reddy is back and is playing his old games, and this time, he is helping the TRS.
“Danam Nagender would have stayed back if he was made the TPCC Working President. Sabita is upset over the denial of funds, over the denial of ticket to her son, and over being ignored after the entry of the Chevella MP Mr Konda Vishweshwara Reddy. Sudhir Reddy did not get any credit for organising Rahul Gandhi’s public meeting, Mohd Azharuddin had to seek Priyanka Gandhi’s help to get Rahul Gandhi’s appointment. The list is long,” said another senior leader.
The appointment of weak AICC secretaries caused another problem. “Is it a national party or galli party? Somebody is misleading the AICC President Rahul Gandhi a great deal,” he added
Friday, May 27, 2022 | Last Update : 01:56 PM IST
Pasupuleti Balaraju turns a hero for Telangana men
DC | C.R. GOWRI SHANKER
PublishedJan 24, 2014, 1:45 pm IST
UpdatedMar 19, 2019, 7:51 am IST
Minister supports Congress on bifurcation.
Hyderabad: Tribal welfare minister, Pasupulati Balaraju’s declaration,
“I am committed to the Congress. I support bifurcation,”?
has made him a hero among Telangana legislators and those backing the decision.
Balaraju was elected twice from Paderu (ST) Assembly constituency in the tribal belt of Visakhapatnam district.
Some members, who are close to Balaraju, say the minister’s brave stand also reflects regrouping of weaker sections in the party and the challenge to the upper castes.
Interestingly, the support of dalit minister, who holds the portfolio of rural
development, to Balaraju, has given rise to this speculation.
“Bifurcation is inevitable. I stand by the party decision on Telangana. The Congress
has always stood by the weaker sections and worked for their uplift.
It is my duty as a party soldier to stand by it, come what may. I don’t fear backlash,”?Balaraju told this correspondent in the Assembly lobby.
Even as he spoke to this correspondent, minister for the welfare of backward classes
Basavaraju Saraiah, government whip Anil Kumar, TRS legislators and others
congratulated Balaraju.
Some MLAs hugged him. “Why should Chandrababu Naidu still act coy on this
issue? Why should he ask MLAs from the two regions to speak for and against
Telangana? Why this double game? Whether it’s TD or our party,
we have to face reality.
When someone pointed this out, his effigies were burnt in some places in
Seemandhra for his support to the bifurcation,” Saraiah said.
Telangana supporters took out a rally in his support in Warangal district.
Balaraju further said that some party MLAs changed their stance on Telangana,
fearing defeat. They jumped to other parties for survival. Within the party too,
some want to have their hegemony.
“What I am today is due to the Congress. How can I ditch the party for narrow
political ends? Everyone knows that a division of the state is imminent.
Why shy away from reality,”? Balaraju asked.
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