Indecision impedes Rs 60,000 crore investments into Amaravati

 

Race for the Chief Secretary post in Andhra Pradesh

Tsunami....Decade-old memories

December 26, 2004. One of the unforgettable days in life. The day the deadly "tsunami" struck. ‪#‎Tsunami‬ was a strange term for me and I didn't exactly know what actually happened.
I was returning from a two-day trip to Araku with my wife and son and my Idea mobile remained switched off as we were in the "non-coverage area". As we reached closer to Visakhapatnam, I switched on my phone only to find at least 10 messages and as many "missed calls". My editor, news editor, a couple of colleagues, my parents and cousinChandrasekhar....all tried to reach me on the phone.
As I was about to call back my editor in Hyderabad, there came a call from my cousin who started enquiring about our whereabouts and condition. "What happened," I curiously asked him.
"Vizag lo samudram pongipoyindanta..." he told me.
The first moment, my thought ran to our guest house right on the other side of Bay of Bengal in Vizag. "Are our belongings (dresses only) safe," I wondered.
He then broke the news to me and I immediately called my editor back. He told me about the grave tragedy and informed that Krishna district, my station of work at that time, was the worst hit. "Cancel your holidays and return to Vijayawada immediately," he directed.
The scene looked normal as we reached the beach road guest house and there was no sign of any sea surge.
I dropped my wife and son in the guest house, asked the driver to fetch food for them and I rushed to a nearby Internet cafe to do my job -- of filing news reports about the devastation in Machilipatnam.
I called my best colleague Ramesh over phone and he gave me most inputs. I then called Prabhakar Reddy sir, Collector of Krishna district at the time, and -- despite being so busy with the rescue and relief operations -- he spoke to me for a few minutes and gave a detailed account of the tragedy at Manginapudi beach where about 15 people were killed. Manginapudi beach, where many facilities were created for tourists a couple of years before 2004, stood destroyed on December 26.
I remember speaking to Vijayawada Deputy Mayor Musunuri Subba Rao over phone. He had a miraculous escape though one of his friends got washed away in Phuket in Thailand on the fateful day. His account helped me file one more story.
In the meantime, I also spoke to the then Joint Collector of Krishna, P Sampath Kumar, who too provided certain inputs about the natural disaster. Importantly, he said it was a "tsunami" and that was the first time I ever heard the word. Sampath was well-versed in geography and geology and so knew about tsunami.
In my initial reports, I didn't use the word tsunami and just said "high tidal waves" and the like.
Thanks to Prabhakar Reddy sir, Sampath, Ramesh, I filed six reports -- sitting in Vizag -- on the tragedy and finished my work by 6 or 6.30 pm that day. 'ThumsUp' kept me going, though I could not have proper lunch, as I gulped a couple of bottles of the drink while typing my reports.
I returned to the guest house, where wife and son (then just 3-year-old) remained anxious, and refreshed myself. We then went for a walk on the beach road where there still were curious people while the district administration, led by Praveen Prakash, was busy with its job of overseeing rescue and relief operations. There was a sea surge in the fishing harbour area in Vizag and no other major damage but an exaggerated television channel portrayed a different story, causing panic.
That night, me, wife and son went to our favourite Palm Beach hotel and had a candle-light dinner under the sky, just a few meters from the Bay of Bengal that thankfully was not ferocious in Vizag.
The next morning, we caught the first available train and returned to our base Vijayawada.
And, I continued my work from there, as usual.

Why the AP government will not fall

Hyderabad: As Andhra Pradesh waits for the outcome of the crucial by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats, the big debate on whether or not the Kiran Kumar Reddy government will survive has started. If at all the government survives, the question is "for how long?" Given the ground realities, the government is unlikely to fall anytime soon.  Not that dislodging the government is an impossible or difficult task, given the precarious position it is in. The Congress' strength in the 294-member Assembly is a fragile 151 right now and at least a handful of its legislators are expected to cross over to the YSR Congress after the by-poll results are out. The government can at best count on the support of the seven-member Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen but that looks a distant possibility as relations between the two soured in recent times. Still, the government will not fall. The reason is plain and not too far to seek. The principal opposition Telugu Desam Party, which alone could cause the government to fall in any case, is a battered force and is not battle-fit to force a mid-term election.  And, by the way, no one wants a mid-term poll anytime soon. Apart from political reasons, the vulgar display of money power in the just-concluded by-elections has left every party in shocking dismay, so much so that they are literally scared of facing any major election in the immediate future. The by-poll results may leave the YSR Congress, the main challenger to the Kiran Kumar regime, buoyant and tempt it to go for the kill. But the YSRC is in a predicament of its own, what with the party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in jail and whether the by-poll magic would work in the mid-term election that will indeed be the actual do-or-die battle for it. Jagan's plans of toppling the government will work only if the TDP plays along but that will be improbable given the current political dynamics in the state.  But Jagan will certainly not wait till 2014 to realise his dream and will seek an early opportunity to strike. He will again be on the prowl as soon as he gets out of the jail. His government may survive for now but the worst time for Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will continue in every manner. His aides always say Kiran is "enjoying" his stint but from now on he will only be ruing.  There is no alternative for him, in every sense.

Chiranjeevi's prestige at stake in Tirupati

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: When Chiranjeevi's name was being considered for a Rajya Sabha seat from Andhra Pradesh in March this year, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was said to have objected to it telling the party high command that winning the eventual by-election in Tirupati could be a difficult task for the Congress.

Kiran's objection was overruled, Chiranjeevi became an MP and vacated the Tirupati Assembly seat.

Now, Kiran's fears are coming true as the ruling party is facing rough weather in the temple-town.

It will be humiliating for the Chief Minister if the Congress loses the Tirupati seat in the June 12 by-election as it falls in his native Chittoor district.

But, it will be a total loss of face for Chiranjeevi himself as he won the seat in the 2009 as the Praja Rajyam Party chief. He was elevated to the Rajya Sabha as part of his PRP's merger deal with the Congress and the onus would be on him to ensure the party's victory in the seat he held till recently.

Former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams B Karunakar Reddy, who lost to Chiranjeevi by a margin of 10,800 votes in 2009 as Congress nominee, is now in fray as the YSR Congress candidate. Going by the current trend that is apparently favouring the YSR Congress in the state, Karunakar Reddy is the front-runner in the by-election race, leaving the Congress camp worried.

Pitifully, the ruling party is banking almost solely on the caste factor to win the Tirupati seat but the Telugu Desam Party will surely dent its chances, if any. 

For, TDP candidate Ch Krishna Murthy belongs to the same community as Congress' Venkata Ramana. Both are former legislators from Tirupati and have sizeable support within their caste. Chiranjeevi is playing the caste card to see that votes of the community -- to which he too belongs -- fall into the Congress' kitty.

He has also promised not to abandon Tirupati and spend his MPLAD funds on the constituency development.

The split in the caste votes between TDP and Congress will be an added benefit for YSRC while it has the advantage of its own caste vote bank. 

Given his previous stint as TTD chairman, YSRC's Karunakar can also count on the support of the temple employees and their families who form a major chunk of the electorate in Tirupati.

Karunakar is hoping to take sweet revenge on Chiranjeevi and have the last laugh this time.

The Parakal 'pareshani' for TRS

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti is fighting the by-election for Parakal Assembly constituency as if it will become extinct if it does not win the seat.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is giving the TRS a run for its money in Parakal after having made the latter bite the dust in the by-election in Mahbubnagar in March this year.
The BJP is confident that the Mahbubnagar result will repeat in Parakal but the TRS is bent on preventing it as the former's victory will threaten its existence as the sole torch-bearer of the statehood movement.

Field level reports indicate that the BJP gained a lot of ground in Parakal over the last few days causing a significant dent to TRS.

That almost all the top leadership of the party has been camping in Parakal for the past many days and closely managing the campaign reflects the TRS' jitteriness.
Parakal is the lone constituency in Telangana region facing by-election on June 12 out of the 18 Assembly segments in Andhra Pradesh.
Though the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party too are in the fray in Parakal, the fight is essentially between TRS, BJP and YSR Congress.
For the YSRC this is the first electoral test in Telanagana where it is yet to make a mark, unlike in Andhra-Rayalaseema regions where it is emerging as a formidable political force.
Incumbent Konda Surekha was disqualified as member of the Assembly in March for voting against the Congress on the no-confidence motion in December last, necessitating the by-poll.
Surekha, one of the staunch supporters of YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, however claimed that she "sacrificed" her post for the sake of Telangana but none is ready to buy it.
As such, Surekha is facing an uphill task on her home turf as every election in Telangana region has been fought and won only on the statehood "sentiment" in recent years.
The TRS benefited heavily from this sentiment and won all the by-elections in Telangana since 2010 till the BJP gave it a shock in Mahbubnagar. Things are not that rosy for the TRS in Parakal this time as the BJP is able to convince people of the region that only a national party could deliver a separate state and not a regional outfit.
As the current trends indicate, the "Jagan sentiment" may not work in Parakal, making the task tougher for Surekha. Now, she is pinning hopes on the caste equations in the constituency to romp home but the Telangana factor could be the biggest dampener for her.
The fight between BJP and TRS has left the other pro-Telangana forces divided on their support. The so-called Joint Action Committee that exists more on paper has pledged its support to TRS while a major section of employees is rallying behind BJP.
G Kishan Reddy, BJP state president, says his party was "racing ahead" in Parakal. "I am confident of a win. Palamur (Mahbubnagar) result will repeat in Parakal," Kishan said, adding that regional parties could not achieve statehood for Telangana.
TRS K Chandrasekhar Rao is employing old tricks to woo voters. "I have concrete information that Sonia Gandhi will grant Telangana in three months. So vote for TRS," he tells people.
Unfortunately for KCR, nobody is taking his claims seriously going by his similar utterances umpteen times in the past.
There is nothing to write about Congress and TDP as far as Parakal is concerned, except that they are fighting for the fourth and fifth places in the by-poll.

THE POWER GAME IN AP

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh is facing an unprecedented "power" crisis in many a sense.

But, as the state is just six days away from make-or-break by-elections (to one Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly constituencies), power of a different kind is in vulgar display -- word power and money power.

All this is clearly with an eye on the "seat of power" in the next general elections.

As the stakes are too high in the by-elections, being touted as the "semi-finals" before the next general elections, all the main contenders are sparing no effort to flaunt their power in every way.

On the streets, and through the media, leaders of the three main parties -- Congress, Telugu Desam and YSR Congress -- are using their word power to spew venom at their rivals. "Decency" is, of course, the one word missing from their vocabulary as they are exchanging high-pitched verbal volleys in a most bizarre game.

Behind the scenes, workers of these parties are quietly going about their 'work' -- doling out 'inducements' in 'cash and kind' to the voters.

It was a jaw-dropping experience for Election Commission authorities in the state as they got to seize cash, gold, silver and other items on an "unprecedented" scale in the 12 districts facing by-elections, ever since the poll schedule was announced.

A sum of Rs 32 crore in unaccounted for cash, about 29 kgs of gold and 13 kg of silver has been "seized" so far, making it by-far the biggest 'catch' in any election in the state.

In the cash-rich Godavari districts, a particular party has reportedly wanted to go on a gold distribution spree to woo the women voters in particular but its plans nipped in the bud when EC authorities got wind of it and seized ornaments from the manufacturer.

The Telugu Desam Party complained to the EC that the YSR Congress candidate in Ongole has been distributing gold ornaments like ear-rings and nose studs apart from sarees to women voters.

In another case, the EC authorities seized 90 "sports bikes" in Prakasam district while there are reports that cell phones are being distributed in some other constituencies.

The YSR Congress is also said to be luring women members of self-help groups in villages with the promise of "funds transfer" following which the TDP alerted the EC asking it to keep a tab on the bank accounts of SHGs.

The ruling Congress, on the other hand, is wielding its authority to link the 'bank linkage' for SHG loans to the outcome of the by-elections in the respective constituencies, implying that the women groups may not get loans if the party loses.

While this is one part of the story, the other relates to the large-scale betting on the prospects of different parties in various constituencies. Interestingly, the contesting candidates themselves are involved in the betting in certain constituencies where the by-election has become a matter of personal prestige as well. The trend of contesting candidates indulging in betting, on their own prospects, began in the state in 2009 in some particular constituencies. 

Ever since, the trend has apparently been spreading.

'TRAITS' OF Y S JAGANMOHAN REDDY

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: If there is one reason that made Y S Jaganmohan Reddy an immensely popular political leader in Andhra Pradesh right now, it’s his open defiance of Sonia Gandhi.
He remained loyal to her only to the extent that his “self-respect” was not impinged upon.
Once the Congress boss sought to encroach on what he believed was his “personal territory”, Jagan rebelled with such audacity and walked out on Sonia that it catapulted him into instant stardom on the state’s political horizon.
His dramatic rise has been the Congress’ fall in a state that helped the grand old party grab power at the Centre for two consecutive terms since 2004.
In 2004, if Congress rose like a phoenix to capture power in Andhra Pradesh, it was singularly due to Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and it was the same man who ensured a second consecutive term in 2009.
The Congress could never deny this, though now it is unabashedly projecting the late YSR as a corrupt leader. Whether YSR was corrupt or not could be debatable.
But this is precisely an other factor that is contributing to Jagan’s political rise – built on his late father’s legacy.
The third factor working in Jagan’s favour is the “credibility crisis” that the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party’s chief N Chandrababu Naidu is stuck in.
The leadership vacuum in the Congress, after YSR’s tragic death, has come as a blessing in disguise for the 39-year-old leader whose clear target is the Chief Minister’s post.
He succeeded in striking a positive chord with common people largely based on the goodwill that his late father earned for himself through a slew of “welfare” programmes.
Jagan merely reminds people of what all his father did for them as Chief Minister and promises to continue the same trend, unlike the current Congress government that had “watered down” each and every scheme “on one pretext or the other.”
People take his word, for they believe Jagan will be as steadfast as his father in implementing what all he promised. 
Of course, there are certain negative attributes to Jagan, those who know him very closely say.
He is seen essentially as a "corporate politician", full of "arrogance of money" and "lust for power."
He is "diametrically opposite" to his father, who had a lot of grace and credibility.
"This guy doesn't have respect or regard for elders, seniors, comrades or friends," is how Jagan is analysed by those who have been with him very closely.
"He is much like his late grandfather Y S Raja Reddy," they add, implying that Jagan too has a "criminal mindset."
These things apart, the biggest stumbling block for Jagan in reaching his goal (CM's chair) could be the Telangana issue. He is certainly a strong force in Andhra-Rayalaseema regions but not in Telangana.
Unless the YSR Congress takes a clear stand on the statehood issue, Jagan may not make inroads in Telangana and that could dampen his prospects.
The Telangana region alone has 119 seats in the 294-member AP Assembly and, thus, Jagan's fortunes ultimately rest on his stand on the statehood demand.

CONGRESS GETS KNOCKED OFF

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh has been knocked off the high moral ground it was taking on corruption for the past eight years. 

The arrest of state Excise and Prohibition Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, in connection with the disproportionate assets case against Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, has left the Kiran Kumar Reddy government shaken. 

There are jitters in the government as well as the Congress party what with some other ministers facing the prospect of arrest over their alleged wrongdoings in relation to the same case. State Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy, Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Information Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Major Industries Minister J Geeta Reddy and Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana are also under the CBI scanner in the Jagan case.

The timing of all this couldn’t have been worse for the Congress as it is facing a biggest challenge in the form of by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats on June 12.

Mopidevi, a three-time MLA from Guntur district belonging to fishermen community, earned the dubious distinction of being the first incumbent minister to be arrested in the state on charges of corruption. As he reached the CBI's temporary office for a further round of questioning, Mopidevi remained defiant. "I have done no wrong and there is no question of my resignation from the post," he asserted.

But, after the inevitable happened, Mopidevi promptly sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister through a friend, which was in turn forwarded to the state Governor for approval.

All these years, the Congress had been maintaining that there was nothing amiss in its rule (under Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, K Rosaiah and now Kiran Kumar) even as opposition parties prepared a dossier on the various corruption scandals that rocked the state since May 2004.

Political expediency -- following the exit of Jagan from the party, the subsequent investigation by the CBI into various dubious deals and the findings of CAG -- forced the government as well as the Congress in recent days to acknowledge that certain illicit acts did happen (when YSR was at the helm).

Right from the Chief Minister to the Pradesh Congress Committee president and other leaders (read ministers), however, have been desperately trying to wash their hands off pleading "we are not responsible for what all happened 'behind the curtains.'"

As battle lines are drawn for by-elections in the state, Kiran Kumar and his Cabinet colleagues virtually started endorsing the opposition allegations that the late Chief Minister YSR was primarily responsible for the unbridled corruption and helped his son Jagan amass "thousands of crores of rupees" through dubious means.

Obviously, the Congress' main target was Jagan and his fledgling YSR Congress that has emerged as the biggest political threat to the ruling party.

But the whole thing seems to be turning a full circle and catching even the Congress leaders in the swirl.

Telugu Desam in an existential crisis

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam Party's citadel is crumbling. 

The party that ruled Andhra Pradesh for about 16 years is now facing the threat of "existential crisis" in the Telangana region, once considered its stronghold.

Reason: it's ambivalent stand on the separate statehood demand.

The TDP and its chief N Chandrababu Naidu's repeated assertions that "we are not against Telangana" have failed to win confidence of the people.

Results of by-elections to 18 Assembly constituencies -- that were fought solely on the Telangana plank -- in the region in 2010 and now, hold mirror to the fact that people had totally rejected the TDP as the principal opposition could not win a single seat.

In the 2009 elections, the TDP managed to win 39 out of the 119 Assembly seats in Telangana as part of the "Grand Alliance" with the TRS and the Left.

Subsequently, five MLAs quit the party of which four joined the TRS and won the by-elections. The other legislator -- Nagam Janardhana Reddy -- too emerged victorious as an Independent in the bypoll now.

That the party could not win deposit in at least 15 seats in all these by-elections depicts its pathetic position. 

There is no love lost for Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekhar Rao among the people of the region but singularly targeting and branding him as the villain of Telangana did not help the TDP in any way, particularly in the current round of bypolls in six segments. 

The TDP leaders, who launched a separate Telangana Forum within the party, played every trick in their bag to showcase that they indeed were the real "warriors" for statehood but to no avail.

Chandrababu's "two eyes" theory on Telangana and Andhra-Rayalaseema too did not cut any ice with people here.

On the contrary, KCR succeeded in making people believe that it was only because of Chandrababu Naidu that the Centre went back on its announcement on creation of a separate state.

That, in a way, sealed the TDP's fate.

The TDP chief, however, is not ready to buy any arguments against his party. "Our situation improved considerably compared to the past (by-elections). We could convince people to some extent on our party's stand on Telangana," Chandrababu claimed, in reaction to the polls results.

The misery for TDP may not end with Telangana as it faces yet another formidable challenge in the by-elections to 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat in Andhra-Rayalaseema in the next few months.

Like the TRS in Telangana, the fledgling YSR Congress of Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy could spell doom for the TDP, in the by-elections to begin with.

Chandrababu doesn't miss any chance to lament that he could not return to power in 2009 only because of the Praja Rajyam Party (which no more exists). 

He could now blame the TRS and later the YSRC for his continued political travails.

The 'Gali' effect on Jagan

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: The arrest of former minister of Karnataka Gali Janardhana Reddy by the CBI in the illegal mining case has started ringing alarm bells in the Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s camp as the former allegedly invested money in the latter’s businesses.

In his own words, late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was a “father figure” and Jagan “my younger brother” for Gali Janardhana Reddy who was a beneficiary of the former’s munificence in Andhra Pradesh.

Gali’s associate and a director in his Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) Ramachandra Reddy is an MLA from Anantapur district who resigned from the Assembly last month in support of Jagan.

His campers fear that the CBI’s probe into Gali’s illegal mining activity may also extend to Jagan as the duo had close business and family links.

Jagan is already under the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate scanner over his dubious business ventures.

The then YSR government virtually gifted over 10,000 acres of land in Kadapa district to Gali for setting up a steel plant named Brahmani. Another 3,000 acres was given to Gali for constructing an exclusive airport.

Not stopping at that, YSR himself wrote a letter to the Government of India to grant a loan of Rs 750 crore to Gali for setting up the steel plant and personally lobbied with the authorities concerned for securing the loan.

Besides, the YSR government gave a free run to Gali for carrying out iron ore mining in Anantapur district, bordering Karnataka, ostensibly for the proposed steel plant.

In turn, Gali invested huge money in RR Global and Red Gold business ventures owned by Jagan.

The steel plant never came up but Gali went ahead with iron ore mining for over two years without any hindrance and shipped the mineral illegally to foreign countries.

All opposition parties in the state waged a virtual war against this “brazen loot of nation’s mineral resources” but, as long as he was alive, YSR never did anything to stop the illegal mining.

The Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court that probed the illegal mining in Anantapur district had strongly indicted the Andhra Pradesh government saying “their efforts have been to cover up the illegal mining being done by OMC in the un-allotted forest areas outside the approved mining leases.”

In a scathing criticism of the then YSR government, the CEC observed that “the objectivity, fairness and impartiality which is expected from a state government is shockingly lacking here and does not inspire confidence.”

It was only after YSR’s death that the then Rosaiah government finally cracked the whip on Gali’s illegal activities by suspending all mining activity in Anantapur district.

And now, the law has finally caught up with the mining mafia lord.

Kiran Kumar's brand-building exercise

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: Switch on any Telugu television channel or flip through pages of newspapers and you will find a smiling face of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy these days.

As you travel on any road in Hyderabad or other major towns in the state, huge hoardings with the Chief Minister’s picture greet you.

All this is part of an “image-building” exercise that Kiran launched in recent days. The State Information and Public Relations Department has initiated an aggressive audio-visual advertisement campaign to trumpet the government programmes and simultaneously prop-up the Chief Minister.

Ever since he came to occupy the Chief Minister’s chair in November last rather unwittingly, Kiran never had an easy going. Troubles plagued him from the day he constituted his Council of Ministers and thereafter he faced more brickbats than bouquets.

He was always seen as a “loner” who could not carry people along and a novice in administrative affairs. Besides, he was a “poor communicator” who could neither speak nor read his mother tongue Telugu properly.

This became a biggest handicap for Kiran and provided a tool for others to lampoon him as he failed to “connect” with the people.

Close to seven months in office now, there is no change yet in Kiran’s fortunes. Administration in the state – as opposition parties allege and some of the ministers themselves admit – is in disarray for a variety of reasons. The Chief Minister could not buy peace with his Cabinet colleagues or Congress leaders while the “high command” that promised to take care of his troubles now apparently remains indifferent.

The burden fell on Kiran himself to work out a way to overcome all the hiccups and thus the image-building effort.

“Since conversing in Telugu has been a major problem, the Chief Minister primarily focused his energies on honing his language skills in the last couple of months. Now there is a marked improvement in the way he addresses a public meeting,” a close aide of Kiran said.

Last week, Kiran surprised everyone by addressing villagers at Vaddepally in Medak district for 40 minutes. This was first time ever that the Chief Minister addressed a public meeting for that length of time. And, he spoke with clarity which hitherto was lacking in his speeches.

Though he doesn’t have a coterie as such, Kiran Kumar consults two senior journalists almost on a daily basis for inputs and feedback on public reaction to his speeches as well as the government programmes.

Kiran Kumar has also been holding regular meetings with the Congress cadres in different districts these days. The one point he is trying to drive home through such meetings is to “stay committed” to the party and get rewarded.

“I am a shining example. I have been a committed Congress worker for over 25 years now and a four-term MLA. I never hankered for posts. I wanted to be a minister at best but I was rewarded with the Chief Minister’s post,” Kiran has been telling the party rank and file.

Since he is facing opposition within the party following his elevation, Kiran is trying to project that it is the Congress high command that brought him in. By this, he is seeking to silence his detractors by invoking the high command.

But Kiran’s aides see this also as a part of the image-building process. He is clearly sending out a message to those who are questioning his leadership credentials.

ANDHRA PRADESH: Awaiting the Congress' call

Desaraju Surya

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh is desperately waiting for Congress’ call – on the vexatious state bifurcation issue.

For years, the Congress has dodged the issue fearing a political backlash but its indecisiveness on either creating a Telangana state or keeping Andhra Pradesh united has only been aggravating the unrest among people of the two regions.

To say that the entire state has been pushed into turmoil – on all fronts – particularly since December 2009 on account of the Congress’ dithering stand will only be an understatement.

The distress caused to ordinary people, the beating that the state’s image had taken notably on the investment front, the internal rift that the main political parties of the state were left with and the enormous loss caused to the state exchequer on account of the strife are now part of history.

But, history threatens to repeat if the Congress drags its feet.

The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has bought time, from the aggressive statehood proponents, till completion of elections to five state assemblies even as close to five months elapsed since the five-member Justice Srikrishna Committee submitted its recommendations on the contentious subject.

Now that elections are over, the separatists are ready to up the ante once again and go all out in their quest for the state of Telangana that so far remained elusive for them.

Not only the separatists but also the integrationists are seeking an immediate solution to the crisis.

“From June 1, we will put Telangana on the boil and even take our struggle to the international level,” declared the separatist leader K Chandrasekhar Rao, whose Telangana Rashtra Samiti has been in the forefront of the statehood struggle.

“It is time for the Government of India to take a clear decision in favour of Telangana. Else, we will go to any extent to realize our aspirations,” regional leaders of the ruling Congress warned.

Having suffered a severe setback in which was once its stronghold, Telugu Desam Party too is gearing up for an open fight this time and has announced its first step of agitation programme in the form of a three-day paada yatra (foot march) beginning May 23.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is keen on re-establishing its base in the region by taking a lead in the statehood struggle, is also organizing a massive rally in Karimnagar on May 31 to galvanize public support for the cause.

Government employees, on the other hand, have threatened to stop work once again if the Central government continued to dilly-dally on Telangana.

There are other groups in the region, particularly the student community, that have been taking an active part in the statehood agitations along with the political parties, often resorting to violence.

Worried are the common people whose lives will be largely affected if the separatists once again unleash strife to meet their objective.

On the other side, the Andhra-Rayalaseema regions remained relatively peaceful despite the state bifurcation demand reaching a feverish pitch in Telangana. Though for a brief period in early 2010 protests erupted in Andhra-Rayalaseema regions with the demand that the state not be split, peace prevailed after the Justice Srikrishna Committee was constituted.

The state fears, as it was mentioned in the Committee’s report as well, that trouble may erupt in any particular region if the Centre’s decision went against it.

“That is inevitable. But the Centre cannot hold its decision on this pretext. It should take an immediate decision either way and settle the issue once and for all,” a group of ministers firmly told Union Minister and AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad when he interacted with them here yesterday. It was a unanimous appeal made by ministers from Telangana as well as Andhra-Rayalaseema regions.

The MPs, MLAs and MLCs from the respective regions, however, spoke for and against the bifurcation – the stands they had taken for long.

Ironically, even when things have come to such a pass, Azad sought to weigh the political fallout for the Congress if the Telangana statehood demand is conceded or not. “Can you people assure Congress’ victory in the next elections if Telangana is granted,” he reportedly questioned party leaders from the region at his meeting.

Only one so-called ‘veteran’ leader rose to say: “I will.”

Interestingly, Azad reportedly did not seek any such assurance from Andhra-Rayalaseema leaders.

Whatever be the implications for the Congress, people of Andhra Pradesh are only looking for a solution that will ensure lasting peace and progress.

Much bravado about nothing

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: Having realised that his resounding victory in the Kadapa Lok Sabha by-election is absolutely not good enough to cause any threat to the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh anytime in the near future, a jittery YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is forced to re-work his strategies.
Now, Jagan's focus will be to "consolidate" his base not just in his native Kadapa but in other parts of the state as well.
Sources close to him say the upcoming elections to urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions could serve as the real testing ground for Jagan's strength and establish his mass base.
All his tall talk and bravado notwithstanding, Jagan realised that he doesn’t command the strength to cause any threat to the government either immediately or in the near future.
As things stand, Jagan has the open backing of only about 15 MLAs in the 294-member AP Assembly, a number too short to make any dent to the government.
Buoyed by his victory in the Kadapa Lok Sabha by-election by a record margin of over 5.45 lakh votes, Jagan initially announced that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government would “fall” within six months.
Subsequently, he changed his tone and said dislodging the government might not be possible as the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party became “an alliance partner” of the ruling Congress.
One who always spoke of over-throwing the government “at the opportune time”, Jagan now changed tack and rather dared the Congress to go for snap polls and seek a fresh mandate.
"Let him first come out with the exact number of MLAs supporting him and then talk of snap polls or anything else," state Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana remarked, rebuking Jagan.
Given its own predicaments, the TDP too is not ready to take the Jagan bait and move a no-confidence motion against the Congress government.
"We have an ideology and a strategy of our own. We will not act according to someone else's wishes," TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu asserted.
"If Jagan is so confident about his strength, why doesn't he make the MLAs supporting him to resign and seek a mandate. That will make things clear," TDP politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.
Though about 15 MLAs, including two TDP rebels and one PRP rebel, are apparently behind him, some of the Congress legislators are making moves to stay back in their parent party rather than sail with Jagan fearing disqualification.
For the time being, the Congress initiated disqualification proceedings against only four MLAs of whom two have reportedly affirmed that they would indeed stay in the ruling party only.
Even among those sailing with Jagan, not all MLAs are said to be happy given his "undemocratic" style of functioning. A Congress and a PRP MLA already walked out of the Jagan camp protesting his "dictatorial" attitude.
"As MLAs loyal to him we couldn't manage an appointment with Jagan and had to wait for two or three days for an audience. That style of functioning will only be detrimental for Jagan," an MLA who walked out of the camp said.
Besides, Jagan's ploy of encouraging the "emerging leaders" even in constituencies where his loyalists are sitting MLAs is also not going down well with the latter.
These are some reasons why the so-called fence-sitters are showing no urgency to jump onto the Jagan bandwagon despite his massive win in the by-poll.
In such a scenario, Jagan cannot go ahead immediately with his plan to dislodge the Kiran Kumar Reddy government, sources close to him aver.
The MP-elect may make his further moves only if the YSR Congress Party succeeds in elections to the local bodies whenever they are held.
Till then, Kiran Kumar and Co. can breathe easy.

POWER OF MONEY

This has been taken from an email sent by my dear friend SKS Nair. I found it wonderful and hence decided to post it on my blog for a wider audience.

This was actually written by Adam Khoo, Singapore's youngest millionaire at 26 years. read on.......

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books. Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that the greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that they earn more money, they think that it is only natural they spend more, putting them back to square one. The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother-in-law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice. When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organisation) a few years back, YEO was an exclusive club open to those who were under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business. I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worth of well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota's and Nissans, not Audis, Mercs, BMWs. I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God, my rich dad foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business. Then, some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just gives you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life. Instead, what makes me happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this blog is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me. I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be it teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a meaninglessness life.

Test of Jagan's political might

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: The time has come for "rebel leader" Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to prove his political might.
The Election Commission has set May 8 as the date for his first political battle as an independent leader.
For Jagan, who got elected to Lok Sabha on his political arangetram in 2009 as Congress candidate from Kadapa constituency, the very party is now the main rival.
Son of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the industrialist-turned-politician quit the Congress as well as his Lok Sabha seat on November 29 last alleging that the party "humiliated" his family. His mother Vijayalakshmi too followed him and resigned from her Pulivendula MLA seat, causing the by-election in the two segments.
Political observers feel that a good show by Jagan in the by-elections will spell trouble for Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy as the rebel leader will try to go for the kill with the help of MLAs loyal to him.

When he quit the Congress in November last, Jagan’s group claimed he enjoyed the support of at least 36 MLAs in the 294-member AP Assembly, a number good enough to dislodge the Kiran Kumar Reddy government. Just a few days later, he claimed during an agitation programme in New Delhi that the Kiran Kumar government was surviving only “at my mercy.”

“I am doing a favour to the Congress by not pulling down its government in Andhra Pradesh,” he had claimed and maintained that he would let it continue its full term till 2014 as it came to power only because of his late father.

Political analysts are, however, unwilling to take Jagan’s claims on face value as they aver that he would not be so “politically imprudent” to wait on the sidelines for another three years.

As things stand, Jagan seems to be enjoying clear support of just a dozen Congress MLAs besides two each of Praja Rajyam Party and Telugu Desam. There, of course, are some fence-sitters who may jump the wall any way depending on the circumstances.

Jagan was to set up his "own party" but technical glitches spoiled his plans as an outfit by the name "YSR Congress" was already registered with the Election Commission. With no other option in sight, Jagan promptly joined the YSR Congress as an ordinary member and got "elected" as its president last month. He then announced the name of "his" party at a public meeting in Jaggampet in East Godavari district and followed it up with the unveiling of its tri-coloured flag on March 12 at his father's grave at Rajiv Knowledge Valley in Kadapa district.
For all practical purposes Jagan could not "formally launch" his political party as the model code of conduct was in place for the elections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council. He can't do it now either as the code remains in place for the by-elections as well.

Nevertheless, he will contest the by-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency as YSR Congress party candidate and his mother Vijayalakshmi will be the party nominee from Pulivendula Assembly segment.

Jagan gave a shocker to the ruling party winning three of the nine Legislative Council seats in the recent elections from the Local Authorities Constituencies while marring its chances in two other. In fact, Congress MLAs loyal to him virtually defeated the ruling party’s nominee for the Council election from the Assembly quota on March 17 by voting in favour of Majlis party candidate, though he too was supported by the Congress.

Now, Jagan’s strength will be put to real test in the by-elections in his own fiefdom. The contest will be as much on YSR’s political legacy as well as on Jagan’s leadership while the sympathy factor too will come into play.

The "secret" agenda of the Centre

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: The Government of India seems to be implementing, rather covertly, the ‘recommendations’ of the Justice Srikrishna Committee even as Andhra Pradesh remains on the boil over the contentious Telangana issue.

A close observation of the political developments in the last few days, read with the crucial three-page “secret supplementary note” handed over to the Union Home Ministry by the Committee, clearly points to a well-planned agenda being executed by the Congress party.

The supplementary note remained a “secret” till Justice L Narasimha Reddy made it public through his judgment on a writ petition filed by former MP M Narayan Reddy.

The secret supplementary note contained the “political management” plan recommended by the Committee to the Union Home Ministry, which is now supposedly being executed.

“There is a need for ensuring unity among the leaders of the ruling party in the state. There is also a need for providing strong and firm political leadership and placement of representatives of Telangana in key positions, may be CM/ Deputy CM (Since done. This aspect was discussed with FM & HM in September, 2010),” the secret note says.

This, of course, did not happen as the Committee presumed while submitting its report to the Centre. Though the Congress promised in December last to appoint a Telangana leader as Deputy Chief Minister, it is yet to be fulfilled because of internal differences within the party.
The Judge in his verdict pointed to this, and observed, “At a time when the Committee was giving final touches to its report, a new Chief Minister was sworn in with some changes in the Cabinet. There was a serious speculation and talk that a legislator from Telangana is going to be made the Deputy Chief Minister, so much so, his name was also announced from Delhi. The Committee appears to have proceeded as though the said legislator was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.”
The secret supplementary note reads:

“Action also needs to be initiated for softening the TRS to the extent possible, especially in the context of the fact that TRS has threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement after December 31 and also initiate a “Maha Yuddham’ (a massive war) if the Centre does not announce a Separate Telangana.

Gaddar’s TPF (Telangana Praja Front) who had parted company with TRS have again joined hands with TRS.
Inputs indicate that this agitation can be tackled if Congress leaders do not give an impression indicating any covert/overt support to it.
Hence the Congress MPs/MLAs need to be taken into confidence and asked not to lend any form of support to the agitation. The Congress high command must sensitize its own MPs and MLAs and educate them about the wisdom for arriving at an acceptable and workable solution.
With the ruling party and main opposition party (for Telangana demand) being brought on the same page, the support mechanisms have a higher probability of becoming successful.”

While the Centre or the Congress could not fully succeed in “softening” the TRS, the party succeeded to a large extent in silencing its Telangana MPs and MLAs though one or two MPs like K Keshava Rao and Madhu Yashki Goud continue to make noises over the issue.
Justice Narasimha Reddy observed: “That the Committee travelled beyond the terms of reference in its endeavour to persuade the Union of India, not to accede to the demand for Telangana, is demonstrated in the supplementary note, appended to the note, representing Chapter-VIII. The Committee comprised two jurists, two social scientists and an ex-bureaucrat to study the situation and submit report covering legal and social dimensions of the issue. None of them were supposed to have any political leanings, or for that matter, political tendencies. Unfortunately, the portion extracted above makes one to feel whether it fits into any Terms of Reference to the Committee at all.”
“The above analysis would find even political scientists and sociologists in wilderness and persuade them to add new chapters to political sciences and public administration. None of these aspects could have been put on paper by a given ruling party, even if it is desperate. Still you do not have a basis for this exercise. It does not even reflect political expediency. At the most it manifests political despondency,” the Judge commented.
The Committee’s note also said: “Further, on receipt of the Committee’s report by the government, a general message should be conveyed amongst the people of the state that the Centre will be open for detailed discussions on the recommendations/options of the report with the leaders/stakeholders concerned either directly or through a Group of Ministers or through important interlocutors and that this process will start at the earliest.”

Close to three months have elapsed since the full report was submitted to the Central government but this process hasn’t begun yet, leaving Andhra Pradesh in a state of gross uncertainty.

KIRAN KUMAR: 100* ..... FOR NOW!

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy today completed his first 100 days in office as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister but his performance report card reads zero.

The Congress high command overnight replaced K Rosaiah with Kiran Kumar as Chief Minister on November 25 last year in the wake of a deepening crisis within the party.

He was supposed to be the ruling Congress’ trouble-shooter at a time when the party was faced with rebellion from former MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and the turmoil over the statehood issue.

The turbulence over the statehood issue continues unabated on one hand while the Jagan’s shadow also haunts the Chief Minister, leaving him on a shaky wicket.

Will the cricketer-turned-politician hit another century or be bowled out is a big question that hangs on everyone’s mind in the state now.

Governance has been largely paralysed in the past three months because of the prevailing political uncertainty. The ongoing agitations for Telangana, particularly the non-cooperation movement by government employees, have only compounded the woes of people.

Kiran's lack of administrative experience is having a telling impact on governance in the state while his "I know everything" attitude is not going down well with anyone, including his Cabinet colleagues.

“Governance has become the biggest casualty in the state. In fact, people are left to wonder if there is a government in the state at all,” TDP politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu observed.

Even other opposition parties like BJP, CPI and CPM too have decried the “lack of governance” in the state and held, apart from the Chief Minister, the Central government and Congress responsible for the sorry state of affairs.

“There are many speed-breakers in my path (in the last 100 days). But everything will become smooth in the next three to six months,” Kiran remarked, when asked about his experiences as Chief Minister so far.

He was also confident that his government would not only last till 2014 but also retain power thereafter.

Will Jagan let Kiran's dream come true? Obviously not, as waiting for three more years (for the CM's chair) will be politically suicidal for Jagan.

The immediate challenge for Kiran will be securing victory for the Congress in the ensuing by-elections to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies vacated by Jagan and his mother Vijaya Lakshmi respectively. Election to a lone seat for the Legislative Council from the Kadapa Local Authorities Constituency is also due this month and a defeat for Congress here will sound the first warning bell for Kiran Kumar.

Of the nine Congress MLAs in Kadapa district, five are sailing with Jagan while, the three ministers apart, only one legislator in still in the party.

Jagan is sure to upset the Congress’ applecart if the party fails to win the elections in Kadapa and this could spell doom for the Kiran Kumar government, political observers aver.

The upcoming merger of Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress may not do any good to the government if the Jagan trouble and the Telangana strife persist.

Trouble began for Kiran the very day he installed his Council of Ministers with most of them protesting the allocation of “insignificant” portfolios on December 1. Though they fell in line within 24 hours upon the intervention of the high command, many of them are still nursing a grudge against the Chief Minister. In fact, ministers like Botsa Satyanarayana have off and on been leaving the Chief Minister embarrassed by raising their voice publicly on contentious issues like BC reservations, prices, etc.

Ministers from Telangana, on the other hand, have virtually kept the government on notice saying they would quit anytime if a separate state is not created. In fact, one minister Jupalli Krishna Rao shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi saying he would resign from his post if a Bill for creation of Telangana is not tabled in Parliament in the ongoing Budget session.

Other ministers from the region like Basavaraj Saraiah and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy too had announced they would follow suit while a couple of others have been speaking in private about this possibility.

Majority of the MLAs from Telangana too are getting ready to “sacrifice” their posts for the cause of a separate state, leaving the ruling party worrisome.

A make-believe budget for Andhra Pradesh

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: Seeking to hide the real picture of the state’s precarious finances, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy presented yet another grandiose budget of Rs 1,28,542 crore for the 2011-12 financial year, projecting a revenue surplus of Rs 3,826 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 17,602 crore.

Neither were any state taxes enhanced nor any new schemes announced in the budget which was about Rs 15,000 crore more than last year’s estimate of Rs 1.13 lakh crore. This is the fourth consecutive year that the state’s budget has been pegged at over Rs one lakh crore, despite the actual realizations falling way short of the projections.

For a state that is virtually in penury because of various factors, including political turmoil, a budget of this size has raised many an eyebrow with the opposition terming it as “unjustified.”

Of the total projected expenditure in the ensuing fiscal, more than Rs 20,000 crore will go towards clearing old arrears for various schemes even as the state’s public debt shot up to Rs 1.41 lakh crore from 1.23 lakh crore last year. This is 23.62 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product.

This was Ramanarayana Reddy’s maiden budget, which he presented at 11.43 am at the auspicious muhurtam set for the occasion, but amidst a din created by opposition members. Eleven MLAs belonging to TRS (6), CPI (4) and BJP (1) were suspended from the House for the day as they tried to disrupt the Finance Minister’s budget presentation, raising the demand for a resolution on creation of Telangana state.

The Telugu Desam Party members were on their feet at their respective seats shouting slogans lampooning the budget even as the minister went ahead with his address.

The Finance Minister projected the expected tax revenue during 2011-12 to be Rs 56,438 crore as against Rs 46,999 crore last year. Non-tax revenue is expected to be Rs 12,339 crore while Central funds are projected at Rs 32,218 crore, including the state share in Central taxes of Rs 16,826 crore.

The plan outlay for 2011-12 has been put at Rs 47,558 crore and non-plan outlay at Rs 80,984 crore.

“Our state economy is likely to grow by 8.89 per cent in the year 2010-11, notwithstanding the heavy rains and floods which have adversely impacted the farming and allied sectors. The Gross State Domestic Product at current prices is estimated at Rs 5.65 lakh crore while per capita income during 2010-11 is estimated at Rs 60,224,” the Finance Minister said in his budget speech.

Industrial sector in the state was expected to achieve a growth rate of 7.79 per cent while the services sector was expected to record a growth rate of 9.61 per cent, he said.

“The good growth in GSDP is also expected to translate into buoyant revenue collections in the coming year at approximately 20 per cent higher than the current budget. Our government is committed to continue all welfare programmes while equal emphasis has been laid on development programmes by continuing substantial allocations to infrastructure sectors like irrigation, roads, water supply and power,” Ramanarayana said.

The Finance Minister announced that the government would introduce a Comprehensive Financial Management System (CFMS) for providing a seamless interface with all stakeholders and putting in place an efficient mechanism of electronic information sharing with external stakeholders in budgeting and accounting processes. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in the 2011-12 budget to implement the CFMS.

Ramanarayana Reddy sought to keep his fellow legislators in good humour by announcing that the Constituency Development Programme taken up with Rs 385 crore this year would be continued. Besides, he also announced the launch of a special fund for development and welfare activities with an outlay of Rs 400 crore.