The stint of N Chandrababu Naidu after he took over the reins of the truncated Andhra Pradesh is replete with celebrations.
Remember Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain and the likes of Rajshree Films of Barjatyas and the movies of that genre where there is a celebration at the drop of the hat? Yeah, Chandrababu Naidu’s regime is happily celebrating every day and keeping its subjects happy.
Ever since the State is separated, beginning with his swearing-in ceremony opposite Nagarjuna University on June 8, 2014, everything in AP is a celebration or everything the Chief Minister’s does is a festivity. From identifying the State Capital region and naming of the State Capital, launching of any new scheme or laying of a foundation stone for a centrally-sponsored institution, to laying of foundation stone for new Capital city by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a bhoomi puja by Naidu himself for the same project before that, to Godavari and Krishna pushkarams inauguration and conclusion, to laying of foundation stone to temporary secretariat at Velagapudi to its multiple ‘griha praveshams’, it’s celebrations all the way.
Here is the list of some prominent functions that marked ‘bhumi puja’ or ‘griha pravesham’ by the Chief Minister:
- Lakeview Guesthouse office in Hyderabad
- A Private House on Road 24, Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad
- Madinaguda Farm House
- Park Hyatt – Serviced Apartments
- H Block (made but did not enter)
- L Block Secretariat CMO in Hyderabad
- Bhumi puja for Amaravati
- Laying of Foundation Stone for New Capital City by the Prime Minister
- CMO built at Irrigation Office in Vijayawada
- Another Camp Office in Vijayawada Lingamenin guesthouse on the river bank)
- Velagapudi transit secretariat – bhumi puja
- Velagapudi Transit Seretariat – token inauguration
- Velagapudi Temporary CMO inauguration
Naidu’s family moved to a rented accommodation on Road No 24, Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad from their own premises on April 12, 2015. That was a family function. The bhumi puja for renovation, the family’s shifting to a farm house in Majid Banda of Madinaguda area in Serilingampally municipality too were family functions as they had to propitiate gods and perform a religious ritual before moving in. In fact, Andhra Pradesh Government has sanctioned huge amounts for providing security arrangements at the Farm House for the Chief Minister. (We have not mentioned other family functions which are purely personal.)
Later, the family found the commute between their respective offices and the farm house extremely difficult. Therefore, they moved to a three bed-roomed duplex service apartment atop the Park Hyatt hotel on Banjara Hills Road 2.
Naidu entered his temporary camp office in Lake View Guest House by the side of Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on June 19, 2014. The State Government spent over Rs. 2 crore to customize and spruce up the premises to suit the needs of the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, amid fanfare.
Eventually, a new office was made for the Chief Minister at a cost of Rs 20 crore on the eighth floor of L Block in the Secretariat in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister occupied it amid a gala function on October 3, 2014.
In fact, a swanky office was made for the Chief Minister at H Block, but Naidu did not opt for it owing to ‘vaastu’ reasons.
Naidu later had a couple of offices in Vijayawada for operating from the new State capital. An Irrigation Circle office was taken over by the State Government and a huge building was constructed and the Chief Minister’s camp office was housed there, at an estimated expense of over Rs. 20 crore. Again, amid the usual Vedic hymns, festivities and pujas in June 2015.
A camp office was created for the Chief Minister right on the banks of the Krishna by taking over the guesthouse of the Lingemaneni group, which operates Air Coasta. This is, for now, the official residence of the Chief Minister in the new State Capital.
Naidu performed a puja on April 25, 2016 to mark the token inauguration of the new temporary secretariat, for which a bhumi puja was conducted a few months before. As the construction of the new temporary secretariat was getting complete, it was inaugurated amid euphoria and ministers began performing pujas to enter their new office premises.
For now, Chandrababu Naidu too moved into his new office at the transit secretariat on Wednesday after a puja. He was greeted and felicitated by several ministers, legislators, people’s representatives, bureaucrats and others upon occupying a new office. Some enthusiasts touched the feet of Naidu to show their respect to him and he did not resist any.
Now, once the State Government at the Capital Region Development Authority approve of the new plans prepared by several international agencies and zero in on an agency to build the new capital, a slew of bhumi pujas and, after the construction is complete, inaugural functions would follow.
It’s festive time time for people of Andhra Pradesh to see their netas and babus enjoy their celebrations.
