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TDP’s entry makes Huzurnagar bypoll multi-cornered contest

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TDP’s entry makes Huzurnagar bypoll multi-cornered contest

The by-election to Telangana’s Huzurnagar Assembly seat next month is likely to be a multi-cornered contest as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) announced its candidate for the October 21 poll.

Hoping to revive his party’s fortunes in Telangana, party President N. Chandrababu Naidu decided to field the party candidate in the by-election.

TDP’s Telangana unit President L. Ramna on Sunday announced that Chava Kiranmai will be the party candidate in Huzurnagar. She is party’s Organisation Secretary in the state.

The TDP’s decision is surprising since it had stayed away from Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

The Huzurnagar bypoll will be the first election to be contested by the TDP in Telangana on its own since December 2018 Assembly elections which it contested in alliance with the Congress.

The four-party alliance, led by the Congress, faced humiliation as it could win just 21 seats in the 119-member Assembly. The TDP had bagged two seats and one of the legislators subsequently defected to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

After the failed experience, the Congress and the TDP snapped the alliance, though officially they did not make any announcement.

Naidu took the decision to field party candidate for the Huzurnagar by-election after consultation with the party leaders from Nalgonda district.

The leaders impressed upon Naidu the need to contest the election to make the party’s presence felt in the state. They said contesting the polls was necessary to send a message to the party cadre at the grass-root level that the party is still alive and kicking.

“We will give answer to those who ask where is the TDP in Telangana,” senior TDP leader R. Chandrashekhar Reddy said. He is confident that the TDP’s revival in the state will start from Huzurnagar.

The TDP, which had left Huzurnagar for Congress in 2018, had bagged over 25,000 votes and finished fourth in the 2014 elections.

The bypoll in Huzurnagar is necessitated by the resignation of sitting Congress member Uttam Kumar Reddy from the Assembly, following his election to Lok Sabha from Nalgonda constituency in the recent polls.

The Congress has fielded Uttam Kumar Reddy’s wife Padmavathi Reddy. She had lost the Assembly election from Kodad constituency in the same district.

The TRS has named S. Saidi Reddy as its candidate. He lost to Uttam Kumar Reddy in December 2018.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too has decided to enter the fray. Party’s state unit President K. Laxman on Sunday said K. Rama Rao will file his nomination as the party candidate on Monday.

Meanwhile, the TRS leaders called on Communist Party of India state Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy to seek his party’s support for the TRS candidate.

As the Left parties had good support base in the undivided Nalgonda district, TRS leader K. Keshava Rao, G. Vinod and others met the CPI leader and sought his support. Venkat Reddy said his party would soon announced its stand.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has also decided to contest the by-election while the Telangana Jana Samithi, which had alliance with the Congress, the TDP and the CPI in previous Assembly polls, is likely to take a decision on Monday.

The TRS, which won 88 seats to retain power in December last year, increased its tally to over 100 by luring 15 MLAs, including 12 of the Congress, to join its ranks. It is looking to wrest Huzurnagar from the Congress.

The bypoll is battle of prestige for the Congress as Uttam Kumar Reddy was elected from here three consecutive times. Political analysts say by winning the by-election, the Congress would like to prove that the TRS act of merging its 12 MLAs with the ruling party was unethical.

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Facing existential crisis in Telangana, TDP may skip by-poll

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Facing existential crisis in Telangana, TDP may skip by-poll

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which stayed away from the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, was unlikely to contest the October 21 by-election to Huzurnagar Assembly seat, party sources said.

The party, which is facing existential crisis in Telangana, has left the decision to party national president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

A section of TDP leaders feel the party should skip the by-election to save itself from embarrassment, others favour joining the fray to show it was still alive in the region.

The TDP didn’t field candidates in the 17 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 polls. It was the first time since its formation in 1982 that the party stayed away from polls in the region.

Analysts say, the TDP, seen as Andhra party by many, is almost finished in Telangana as it lost almost the entire leadership to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) since 2014. In recent months, some has joined the Congress and others switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After making inroads in the Lok Sabha polls by winning four seats, the BJP is projecting itself as the alternative to the TRS and there is hardly any political space left for the TDP in Telangana, say analysts.

The TDP is also demoralised after losing power in Andhra Pradesh. Though Naidu recently held talks with few party leaders from Telangana, the revival prospects appear bleak.

The TDP had contested the December 2018 Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS). The four-party alliance, led by the Congress, was humiliated as it could win only 21 seats in 119-member Assembly.

The TDP bagged just two seats and one of the MLAs subsequently crossed over to the TRS.

The TRS, which retained power by winning 88, consolidated further by luring as many as 15 MLAs from the Congress and other parties to join its ranks.

It’s likely to be a direct fight between the TRS and the Congress in Huzurnagar constituency as the BJP is unlikely to make any impact.

That the TRS is taking the by-election seriously was evident that within a couple of hours after the announcement of poll, the party declared candidate. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, also the TRS chief, decided to again field S. Saidi Reddy, who lost the vote in December 2018.

Saidi Reddy lost to Congress state chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy by 7,466 votes. The by-poll is necessitated by resignation of Kumar Reddy from the Assembly after his election to the Lok Sabha from the Nalgonda constituency.

The by-election will be the first major test for the TRS, which suffered a blow in the Lok Sabha elections with the BJP and the Congress winning 4 and 3 seats, respectively.

However, the TRS recovered by making almost a clean sweep in rural local body elections in June.

Saidi Reddy will be locked in a keen battle against Padmavathi Reddy of the Congress. She is wife of Kumar Reddy. She had lost the Assembly elections from the Kodad constituency.

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Telangana announces 28% profit share for Singareni workers

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Telangana announces 28% profit share for Singareni workers

The Telangana government on Thursday announced a 28 per cent share in the profit of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to its employees for 2018-19.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced in the state legislative Assembly that each employee will get a bonus of Rs 1,00,899, which is Rs 40,530 more than the last year’s bonus.

He said that this is Telangana government’s Dussehra festival gift for the employees of SCCL.

The company, owned by the Telangana government and the Centre on a 51:49 equity basis, earned record net profit of Rs 1,765 crore during 2018-19.

In 2017-18, each worker was paid Rs 60,369 as part of the 27 per cent profits shared with the workers.

The company, which has a workforce of over 56,000, had clocked a net profit of Rs 1,212 crore in 2017-18.

He pointed out that the company, which had produced 50.47 million tonnes of coal in 2013-14, had been increasing production every year. In 2018-19, the coal production went up to a record level of 64.41 million tonnes. The net profit grew from Rs 418 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,765 crore in 2018-19.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the public sector undertaking is playing a key role in the development of Telangana.

“Progress in coal production, transport, sales, profits, increase in turnover, all stand as a symbol of the Telangana government’s effective and good governance. It is a proud moment for all of us, when the SCCL fared better than the Coal India in almost all parameters related to the coal management in the country,” the Chief Minister said.

“Our government feels that the sweat that each and every SCCL worker shed in creating the national wealth, often coming out of jaws of death, is no way inferior to the sacrifices of our own army personnel fighting at the borders,” he added.

He recalled that in the united Andhra Pradesh, Singareni workers were getting meagre bonus. The bonus was only Rs 13,540 in 2013-14.

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Telangana HC bars government from demolishing Errum Manzil

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Telangana HC bars government from demolishing Errum Manzil

In a jolt to the Telangana government, the Telangana High Court on Monday directed it not to demolish the Errum Manzil, a heritage structure, for construction of a new Assembly building.

The court struck down the decision of the state cabinet to demolish Errum Manzil to build the legislature complex.

A division bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Shameem Akhter pronounced the orders on a batch of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitions challenging the government’s decision to pull down Errum Manzil.

The court, which had reserved its orders on August 7, pronounced the same on Monday.

The bench agreed with the petitioners’ argument that Errum Manzil is a heritage building and it needs to be protected.

C. Prabhakar, counsel of one of the petitioners, said they had also argued that construction of a new Assembly building will be waste of public money as the existing building is equipped to meet the requirements.

The government had argued that Errum Manzil was removed from the list of heritage structures and that the state needs a new Assembly building.

Heritage activists and opposition parties had opposed the government’s decision to demolish the heritage structure.

Descendants of Nawab Fakrul Mulk, a noble of erstwhile Hyderabad State, had also opposed the plans to demolish Errum Manzil, a family palace built by him about 150 years ago.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on June 27 had laid foundation stone for new legislature complex to be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

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No permission to uranium mining: KTR

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No permission to uranium mining: KTR

KCR’s son and Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao is trying hard to put a full stop to the ongoing social media agitation against alleged uranium mining in Nallamala forests in Mahabubnagar district. He says that the TRS will not give permission to the mining under any circumstances. What is currently going on is just search by geologists in the hill forests. The search is taken up under the Central Government departments. No mining has begun anywhere in the state.

KTR’s clarifications came amid rising wave of protests from all sections of Telugu states. Celebrities’ support and Twitter messages have further intensified the ‘Save Nallamala’ from the radiation that may be caused in future. Star heroine Samantha, Heroes Ram, Devarakonda Vijay, Tanikella Bharani and others have expressed their total support to the anti-uranium agitation.

The fears of the common public are that uranium exploration may lead to radiation and pollution of the waters in the Krishna river which is central to drinking water needs of both Telugu states. The uranium deposits are said to be present in Nallamala forests spread over Kurnool, Kadapa, Prakasam, Guntur and Mahabubnagar districts.

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KCR Regime gifts poor people’s land to Swamiji

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KCR Regime gifts poor people’s land to Swamiji

The Chandrasekhara Rao government forcibly acquired high-value land from poor persons and gave it to an affluent Swamiji in Yadadri limits. Costly land worth nearly Rs. 10 Cr was involved in this transaction. Fulfilling KCR’s earlier promise, 2.75 acres land at Gundlapalli area was registered in the name of Jeeyar Integrated Vedic Academy (JIVA) already. Reports say that the local realtors have offered Rs. 1 cr per acre to these poor families in 2015, but the government did not allow these transactions with a clear strategy of its own. The farmers’ worst fears came true as the Telangana government acquired the same land and gave it to Jeeyar Swamiji.

Interestingly, the KCR Circar is using force to acquire the lands of the poor. Moreover, it is saying that thrice the book value of the lands were being offered to them. Because of this, a sense of fear has struck the residents of nearly five villages in Yadadri area. The massive Yadadri project has become a big shock to them. KCR is developing the Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple here as a global pilgrim centre on the lines of Tirupati.

In respect of Gundlapalli poor farmers, their lands are worth nearly Rs. 3 cr in open market but the government is offering a nominal amount only. Though the government is saying that it would give three times the value notified by the sub-registrar, this amount will not reach anywhere near the market value.

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Opinion – How KCR wants to define Telangana in his image

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Opinion – How KCR wants to define Telangana in his image

Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, is on a mission to make the history of Telangana synonymous with his name.

The historic kingdom of Golconda is known after Nizam, the dynasty that ruled the Deccan region. Now, KCR, the second-term Chief Minister of the youngest state in the country, wants his name immortalised in the annals of Telangana as its very essence.

The news, then, that the face of ‘the father of Telangana’ was engraved on the pillars of the mega temple complex coming up at Yadadri in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district is not much of a shocker to observers.

The spellbinding temple complex is being constructed under the aegis of the Telangana government with taxpayers’ money. The venture is seen as part of KCR’s attempts at canonising his name in the consciousness of every Telanganite for all times to come.

Since Telangana with Hyderabad as capital was carved out of the united Andhra Pradesh in 2014, KCR has not been coy about his desire to inseparably intertwine the birth of a ‘golden Telangana’ with his name.

The articulate leader who had played the leading role in the agitation for the separate state has since come up with several initiatives that firmly carried his stamp.

His move to shift the historic secretariat buildings on the banks of Hussain Sagar was part of this strategy to erase the past and write a new beginning in which KCR dominates the story of Telangana.

The Chief Minister in his first term had planned to build the new secretariat at Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad. He had earlier shortlisted Chest Hospital, a 100-year old heritage building, for constructing the secretariat. However, the stiff opposition to both compelled KCR to search for alternatives.

Having failed to secure the land, KCR decided to pull down the existing structures and erect a brand-new secretariat at the same place, allocating Rs 400 crore for his project. KCR performed the Bhoomi puja for the new secretariat complex on June 27. The idea was to come up with a spanking complex that reminds only of KCR and his government.

KCR also wanted an assembly building that bears his stamp. The present assembly forms part of the iconic heritage structure built by the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad. Unimpressed by the imposing building, a landmark in Hyderabad, he now wants to build a brand new assembly at Errum Manzil in Khairatabad by demolishing a heritage building of the Nizam era.

Though KCR has already launched works on the new assembly to be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, the High Court of Telangana stayed the move following the Public Interest Litigation filed by various parties. The court is presently hearing the case.

The Opposition Congress and BJP, besides several civil society organisations, have been critical of the move and characterised it as squandering public money for a personal whim. But KCR is unperturbed.

Most of the irrigation projects such as the ambitious Kaleshwaram project, though conceived during the united Andhra Pradesh days, have been recast and rebranded to put KCR’s image at the very centre of all development paradigm in the new state.

A strong practitioner of Hindu religious rituals and a frequent visitor of temples, KCR also came up with the idea of building a magnificent temple on the soil of Telangana. After bifurcation, Tirumala-Tirupati Temple, the most visited Hindu pilgrim centre in the country, is now located in residual Andhra Pradesh.

In a bid to recreate Telangana’s own Tirumala, KCR wanted to transform Yadagririgutta, the abode of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, located on a hillock some 60 km from Hyderabad, into a spiritual attraction of national importance. But he was also making a political statement.

First, KCR changed the nomenclature Yadagirigutta, as the temple is known in the Telangana parlance, to a Sanskritised ‘Yadadri’. He drew ambitious plans for the former austere temple, having appointed hand-picked traditional architects. Under his watchful eye, the spectacular temple is coming up in the same manner as temples of yore took shape under the auspices of kings and emperors.

An amount of nearly Rs 700 crore has already been spent on the temple, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. A 1,000-acre city will come up around the hilly temple. “The temple will be a sight to behold and will remain that way for generations to come”, KCR reportedly said during one of his visits.

It is in this backdrop that KCR’s face and his party symbol Ambassador Car are engraved on the pillars of the temple. There are also numerous other carvings of the Telangana government such as the state’s official logo. But KCR and his party’s symbol being sanctified by being engraved on the temple pillars attracted the ire of the opposition.

The engravings were erased following the uproar. But as KCR is all set to perform the mother of all rituals, the Maha Sudarsana Yagam, at the temple in February 2020 involving thousands of Ritviks and Vedic priests, Yadadri’s glory will always have the imprint of the CM’s name.

BJP, which has ambitions in Telangana after winning four MP seats in recent elections, has not made much headway precisely because KCR proved time and again that he was a more ardent Hindu than the saffron party leaders could claim to be.

Even as the BJP is making vain efforts at questioning KCR’s Hindu credentials, the politically-savvy Chief Minister, who continues to be the undisputed leader in his second term, has his eyes firmly set on making Telangana a byword for the three letters – KCR.

Ramesh Kandula is a Hyderabad-based journalist.

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Telangana budget for Rs 1.46 Lakh Cr: Recession effect

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Telangana budget for Rs 1.46 Lakh Cr: Recession effect

Telangana has a major advantage because of Hyderabad Capital City which is contributing mostly to the state’s revenue. Still, a shortfall in the state’s income is expected this year.

Following this, the KCR government presented a budget for only Rs 1.46 Lakh Cr. This is nearly Rs 24,000 Cr less than what the finance department officials initially estimated the budget to reach Rs 1.70 lakh crore.

CM Chandrasekhar Rao presented the budget in the Assembly. Because of lack of revenue, the government has reduced the budget estimate. Top priority was given to the welfare, agriculture and irrigation sectors. An allocation of Rs 12,000 Cr was made for Rythu Bandhu cash transfer programme. Another Rs. 6,000 Cr was given for farmers’loan waiver. KCR government is promising 24-hr power supply to agriculture. All steps are taken to avoid impact of economic slowdown on agriculture and industry.

Hyderabad-based IT exports have crossed Rs. 1.10 Lakh Cr. This has made Capital City a high revenue contributor to the state. The industrialists and economists were surprised at the early impact of recession.

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Sabita and Satyavati first ever women in KCR Cabinet

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Sabita and Satyavati first ever women in KCR Cabinet

About 6 new ministers will enter the KCR Cabinet in today’s expansion as per confirmed reports. Of them, two ministers will be women. This is the first time that CM Chandrasekhara Rao is accommodating women in his ministry and, that too, two women simultaneously. In his first stint as CM also, KCR did not give ministries to women. Maheswaram MLA Sabita Indra Reddy and Warangal MLA Satyavati Rathore got into the Cabinet.

The other four ministers are TRS Working President KT Rama Rao, KCR’s nephew T. Harish Rao, Khammam MLA Puvvada Ajay Kumar and Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar. With present expansion, the Cabinet strength will go up from 12 to 18 ministers. It is highly unlikely that anybody will be dropped from the Cabinet as of now.

The TRS leaders say that their boss has given top priority to balancing representation to districts and seniority of the leaders in the present expansion. Harish Rao’s candidature has become a little controversial. There were rumours for some time that he may not get into the Cabinet. Harisha Rao’s loyalists have become greatly agitated and worried whether KCR would really set him aside. But finally, KCR’s nephew got his berth ending political speculation on differences within KCR family.

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Telangana orders removal of politicians’ temple carvings

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Telangana orders removal of politicians’ temple carvings

The Telangana government on Saturday directed Yadadri temple authorities to remove images of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and all other political leaders which were carved on the pillars of the temple.

The Chief Minister’s special secretary gave the orders to Yadadri Temple Development Authority (YTDA) after strong protests by the opposition parties and Hindu groups.

Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, K. Bhoopal Reddy directed that except the symbols related to the god and the temple, no other symbols should be used in the development of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, also known as Yadadri temple.

According to Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Reddy expressed anger at the way certain political leaders’ illustrations and party symbols were carved in the structures.

Reddy asked YTDA Special Officer Kishan Rao and Art Director Ananda Sai under whose instructions and direction pictures of Chandrashekhar Rao, Indira Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi and symbols of certain political parties were engraved. The YTDA officials told him that one or two sculptors did this on their own.

The Chief Minister wanted pictures portraying the importance and greatness of the temple and spiritual pictures should be carved and engraved in the temple’s vicinity.

Reddy instructed that all the pictures of political leaders and party symbols and other such objectionable material should be taken off forthwith.

The orders came after opposition Congress, BJP and some right-wing Hindu groups staged protests at Yadadri, leading to tension around the hill shrine during the day. BJP state president K. Laxman and other leaders tried to march towards the temple to protest carving of the images of the chief minister and other political leaders. Congress leaders also tried to take out a rally but were prevented by the police.

Earlier, BJP’s lone state legislator Raja Singh had visited the temple and warned that if the images of KCR and other leaders were not removed within a week, he would mobilise devotees from around the country at Yadadri. He warned that the government will be responsible for the consequences.

The opposition parties alleged that Chandrashekhar Rao was trying to portray himself as a god. They said he had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

Besides Rao’s image, the symbol of his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the flagship schemes of his government were also sculpted.

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KTR and Harish to become Ministers: Cabinet expansion

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KTR and Harish to become Ministers: Cabinet expansion

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrsekhara Rao is all set for Cabinet expansion on Sunday. His son and TRS Working President KT Rama Rao is certain to be inducted into the Ministry. Reports say that KCR’s nephew T. Harish Rao’s name is also being considered for Ministry. In all, six new faces will be there in the already 12-member strong Cabinet most likely. One or two ministers are expected to be dropped. Political circles are discussing whether Minister Eetela Ravinder will face KCR anger this time. Incoming Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has been informed about the expansion.

The other leaders likely to get ministry are Sabita Indra Reddy, Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Gangula Kamalakar, Rekhya Naik or Satyavati. Former Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy is likely to be made RTC Chairman. MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy may be given vice chairman post of Mission Bhageeratha.

Nalgonda MLC Gutta Sukhender Reddy is expected to be made Legislative Council Chairman. There were rumours in the past that Sukhender Reddy will be made a Minister by dropping Malla Reddy from the Ministry. But the latest political equations have changed dramatically Huzurnagar by-election.

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BJP threat to erase KCR face from Yadadri walls

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BJP threat to erase KCR face from Yadadri walls

The Telangana government is spending crores of public funds to develop Yadagirigutta Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple as a major pilgrimage centre. As part of this, the mandapams and Gopurams are being remodelled. In the process, the sculptors carved the face of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and TRS party’s car symbol on the walls and pillars. This has triggered angry protests from the Congress, BJP and other opposition parties.

As expected, the Bharatiya Janata Party state unit has decided to make it a big political issue. Its Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh said that KCR’s action has hurt the sentiments of crores of devotees. For this, the CM should immediately tender an unconditional apology to the Telugu people.

Raja Singh wondered how the TRS government could resort to such a step when it is clear that the temple development is not taken up from its party funds. He demanded that the government immediately take action against the sculptors responsible for carving KCR images. These images should be immediately stricken off from the temple walls. If not, Raja Singh threatened that the BJP would lead the people to go there and erase KCR face from the Yadadri walls.

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Telangana Secretariat buildings unfit: experts panel

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Telangana Secretariat buildings unfit: experts panel

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao has taken it as a prestige to construct a grand, new building for Secretariat by spending hundreds of cores. But the opposition objected saying that the present buildings have still long life and their demolition would be a sheer waste of public money. To prove them wrong, KCR formed an engineering experts committee consisting of heads of engineering departments from different ministries. The committee is asked to study the issue and make recommendations.

The experts panel completed its study and submitted its report stated that the present Secretariat buildings are unsuitable for modifications to provide latest networking facilities. There are no facilities to undertake effective fire fighting services in times of emergencies. Fire engines cannot enter A, B, C, D and other blocks. Only one entrance and exit facility is given. The buildings taken over from AP have their water pipes, electricity wires, etc badly damaged because of disuse.

Experts panel also said that the present buildings cannot meet Green Buildings Standards at the national level though latest modifications are made. Presently, CM, Ministers and Secretaries are staying in different blocks. If they are brought into one single new building, their coordination and networking would become much easier. The present buildings have no room facilities for reception, foreign visitors, creche, canteen, etc. The experts report has reached the Ministers Sub Group which is expected to recommend the government to go ahead with demolition of old buildings.

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Telangana’s 30-day action plan aims to transform villages

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Telangana’s 30-day action plan aims to transform villages

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday hoped his government’s 30-day special action plan will transform the state’s villages.

He called for developing Telangana’s villages as model villages in the country and for implementing the action plan successfully.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, gave instructions to officials at meeting organized here as part of the preparations for the special action plan, beginning September 6.

He directed the officials to convene the gram sabha’s meeting on the first day, invite people’s participation and seek their suggestions for the one-year and five-year plans.

Sanitation, greenery and the power week will be key components of the 30-day plan. Under this programme, dilapidated houses, animal sheds and debris will be removed.

Authorities will cover all the unused borewells and fill-up the low-lying areas to prevent water stagnation. Cleaning of all schools, government buildings and roads will be taken up. All the wild and unwanted vegetation will be removed.

A fine of Rs 500 will be levied on those dumping garbage on roads and in public places, he said.

Plant nurseries will be set up in each of the 12,751 gram panchayats. The village bodies will prepare a green plan to undertake plantation of saplings.

During the 30-day programme, seven days will be exclusively meant for the electricity related issues.

The authorities will rectify or replace the twisted electricity poles and remove hanging electricity wires. The wooden and iron poles will be replaced with those of cement.

Funds required for the programme will be raised from the state government’s budget, the Finance Commission, general taxes of the Gram Panchayat, from National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, funds from donors and from works done by the villagers through ‘Sramadan’

KCR announced that 100 flying squads with senior officers will be formed all over the state for surprise visits to the gram panchayats after the 30-day programme.

“Those villages, which reached the target, will be rewarded while those fail to reach the target will be punished,” he said.

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Ganesh Chaturthi begins with fervour in Telugu states

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Ganesh Chaturthi begins with fervour in Telugu states

Ganesh Chaturthi began with traditional fervour in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Monday with devotees installing the idols even as rains in several parts of the two states marred the festivities.

The 10-day-long festivities began amid tight security in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as thousands of idols were installed at specially decorated “pandals” or makeshift platforms

The idols of different shapes and sizes were installed in houses, shops, colonies, markets and other public places.

Devotees performed ‘puja’ to the elephant-headed Hindu god in their houses. The markets were abuzz with activity as men and women bought idols, flowers, leaves, fruits and other puja items.

However, rains in Hyderabad and other places dampened the festive spirit. The sale of idols and other items was affected by the downpour.

Several trucks were seen carrying giant idols from Dhoolpet — a market famous for idol-making in the old city of Hyderabad. Police imposed traffic restrictions in the area to facilitate smooth transportation of idols.

Like every year, the tallest Ganesh idol in both the Telugu states was installed at Khairatabad in the heart of Hyderabad. Telangana’s outgoing Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and his wife Vimla Narasimhan were the first to perform ‘puja’ to the 61-foot-tall idol.

It was on Sunday that the Centre appointed Tamilisai Soundararajan as the new governor of Telangana.

Narasimhan, who had been performing ‘puja’ to Khairatabad Ganesh every year for last nine years, said he would continue to visit the place on every Ganesh Chaturthi.

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who was appointed as the new Governor of Himachal Pradesh, also offered prayers to tallest Ganesh idol.

Telangana’s Minister for Animal Husbandry T. Srinivas Yadav and local legislator D. Nagender were among other leaders who participated in the festivities.

Hundreds of devotees thronged the place to offer prayers to Ganesh idol named ‘Dwadashaditya’ with 12 heads and 24 hands. It is also adorned with 12 snakes.

The organizing committee of the tallest idol has also made 750-kg ‘laddu’ as ‘prasadam’.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, along with his family members, performed Ganesh puja at Pragati Bhavan, his official residence, to mark the occasion.

Rao, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telangana Governor Narasimhan and Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan greeted people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Special puja programmes were also organised in the offices of political parties in Hyderabad.

An estimated 30,000 idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar, the lake in the heart of the city, during the 10-day fete. Nearly half of them will be immersed on the final day — September 12.

Over 20,000 policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces will be deployed in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to maintain law and order during the festival.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the communally-sensitive old city of Hyderabad.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

E.S.L Narasimhan’s long stint as Governor ends

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E.S.L Narasimhan’s long stint as Governor ends

With the Centre on Sunday appointing Tamilisai Soundararajan as the new Governor of Telangana, E.S.L. Narasimhan’s long stint as governor comes to an end.

The former chief of the Intelligence Bureau is the longest-serving Governor in India if his term as Chhattisgarh Governor is also taken into account.

The 1968-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) official served as the Governor of undivided Andhra Pradesh during turbulent period of the Telangana movement and following bifurcation of the state, of both the Telugu states.

After appointment of Biswa Bhusan Harichandan as Andhra Pradesh Governor in July, Narasimhan was confined to Telangana.

It has been eventful nearly decade-long term for Narasimhan, who was initially seen by groups fighting for statehood to Telangana as someone sent by the Centre to stall formation of the Telangana state.

He was even heckled by legislators of then opposition Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and other parties on couple of occasions in the Assembly over the Telangana issue.

However, after formation of Telangana state, he enjoyed cordial relations with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

He used his good equation with both Chandrashekhar Rao and then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to take initiatives for sorting out post-bifurcation issues between the two Telugu states.

The police official, who retired in December 2006, was appointed as Governor of Chhattisgarh on January 17, 2007.

On December 27, 2009, he was made in-charge Governor of Andhra Pradesh when N.D. Tiwari stepped down following a sex scandal.

This was the time when Andhra Pradesh was witnessing turmoil over Telangana issue. Four days before he was given additional charge of Andhra Pradesh, the Centre had announced that it will hold wider consultations over Telangana.

For parties fighting for the Telangana state, this was a U-turn by then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) after December 9 announcement to initiate the process for formation of Telangana.

Narasimhan was formally appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh on January 23, 2010.

He was a key part of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Centre before taking a final decision to split Andhra Pradesh.

Following bifurcation in 2014, Narasimhan continued as the Governor of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 states that the Governor of the existing state of Andhra Pradesh would be the common Governor for both states “for a period as may be determined by the President.”

For his vast experience and the rapport he had developed with different players in state politics, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) stuck with him for five years. He also enjoyed full support of the Centre as he tried to resolve the outstanding issues between the two states.

However, the Modi government in its second term decided to replace Narasimhan by appointing new governors for both the Telugu states.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Tamilisi Sounder Rajan replaces Governor Narasimhan

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Tamilisi Sounder Rajan replaces Governor Narasimhan

The Centre finally issued orders appointing Dr Tamilisi Sounder Rajan as the new Governor of Telangana. She is currently the Tamil Nadu State unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Centre appointed new Governors for five states. Former union minister and BJP Telangana leader Bandaru Dattatreya is made the new Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Sounder Rajan studied medicine at Madras Medical College. She contested unsuccessfully for both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections. She is the first woman Governor of Telangana.

The Centre has not given new posting for Narasimhan. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao is also replaced by Bhagat Singh Kosyali and he is not given new posting. In the fresh postings, the BJP gave importance to their party long time leaders.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

KCR dynastic rule will end, says BJP Working President

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KCR dynastic rule will end, says BJP Working President

BJP National Working President JP Nadda accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao of continuing his family and dynastic regime in the state without any transparency. In the name of a holy name, KCR is committing massive fraud in Kaleswaram irrigation project. Nadda said that the KCR Regime has enhanced the project cost from Rs. 30,000 crore to Rs. 80,000 crore.

BJP has been asserting that KCR has pushed a surplus state like Telangana into deep debts. After the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation, Telangana got the highest revenue source of Hyderabad capital city. Moreover, all the huge assets developed over decades in united AP are located within Hyderabad.

BJP says that KCR has been the CM ever since Telangana got separate statehood along with Hyderabad city but he has destroyed the state’s economy like never before. The so-called Mission Kakatiya irrigation programme has become a TRS Mission for Commissions all over the state. KCR has asked for Central funds for Mission Kakatiya but the Modi government has ignored this. Now, the BJP has called it a programme to benefit TRS leaders.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Hyderabad care of address for US giants

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Hyderabad care of address for US giants

Huge opportunities for growth and expansions have made Hyderabad the fastest growing metropolitan city in the Southern India. American top companies like Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple, etc have set up their branches here. Even furniture giant Ikea has also established its massive unit. Now, the Telangana Capital City is become home for Amazon’s largest unit in the entire world. CM KCR will be inaugurating this massive unit on August 21.

Amazon’s new huge campus came up in a 10-acre plot at Financial District in Nanakramguda area. It has got 20 lakh sft office space with another 10 lakh sft parking space. The 15-storeyed building is completed recently but already 7,000 people have started working there.
Amazon’s overall employees working from this building will be increased to 9,000 in one month. Facilities are created for enabling 30,000 persons to work at a time here. Amazon is giving lot of priority to Hyderabad. It has set up a fulfillment godown with 4 lakh sft space near Shamshabad International Airport. Another American giant, Servicenow Company, has set up its Asia’s biggest centre in Hyderabad. It has employed 3,000 persons already with plans for further recruitment soon. Hyderabad is emerging as a city of pride for Telugu people.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Telangana hospitals stop healthcare services

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Telangana hospitals stop healthcare services

Healthcare services under Telangana’s Arogyasri scheme came to a halt on Friday as about 240 private hospitals in the state stopped providing services over non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore by the state government.

Talks between Health Minister Etela Rajender and Telangana Network Hospitals Association (TNHA) failed to find a solution.

The minister said after the talks with representatives of TNHA that the dues amount to only Rs 600 crore and that the government will immediately release Rs 200 crore.

He said the decision on the demand to increase the charges for various services would be taken after consultation with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

TNHA, however, maintained that the government has to pay dues to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

The hospitals stopped the services under Arogyasri, Employees’ Health Scheme (EHS) and Journalists’ Health Scheme (JHS).

TNHA made it clear that they will not resume the services till a clear assurance over payment of all dues.

Over 80 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are provided free healthcare facilities in private hospitals under Arogyasri, which was launched by the then Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2007.

The network hospitals stopped the services on many occasions in the last four years over non-payment of dues.

They have also been demanding revision of the rates for various packages under the scheme.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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