Indeworld

Praja Rajyam no more......... Chiru ban gaya Cong-man....

2011-06-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

A strange sense of foreboding it was, till a few months ago, a feeling that turned into a sense of 'deja vu' Feb 06 this year when Praja Rajyam President K. Chiranjeevi actually announced his move to merge with the Congress.

Then followed an official representation to the Election Commission of India, with the required enclosures that included a party resolution and an acceptance from the Congress high command too.

And on the evening of June 13 (no, it wasnt a Friday though) , but Monday, news came that the Election Commission had issued a notification freezing the Rising Sun symbol and removing the Praja Rajyam Party from the list of recognised political parties. To put it simply, but painfully - Praja Rajyam is no more, or in desi slang "Chiru ban gaya Cong-man".

For more on this, a while later, but following is what I actually filed for my newspaper.......

The Election Commission of India on Monday approved the merger of the Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress and issued a notification to this effect.

When contacted, senior leader of the Praja Rajyam and Member of the Legislative Council, C. Ramachandraiah said they had received a one-page letter from the EC giving the go-ahead, referring to the Praja Rajyam’s representation seeking to merge with the Congress.

The EC has declared the process of merger complete. Accordingly, the party’s symbol of the Rising Sun has been frozen and the name ‘Praja Rajyam Party’ removed from the list of political parties, the MLC said. It is learnt that the notification was sent to the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, Bhanwarlal, with a copy marked to the Praja Rajyam. The party in turn is likely to submit the copy of the merger notification to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council here.

It may be recalled that the Praja Rajyam was launched with a bang at Tirupati on August 26, 2008 and contrary to expectations of coming to power, ended up with a tally of 18, including party President K. Chiranjeevi, in the general elections of 2009. However, it garnered an impressive vote share of about 18 per cent.

Film producer and Mr. Chiranjeevi’s brother-in-law Allu Aravind, who was the then General Secretary of the Praja Rajyam had declared before the elections, that they were confident of riding to power. But he drew flak for saying that they would like to win only 292 of the 294 seats in Andhra Pradesh, leaving voters in the two remaining Assembly segments cursing themselves why they did not exercise their franchise in favour of the ‘Megastar’.

A few months ago, the actor-turned-politician had on February 6, 2011, announced the decision to merge with the Congress, saying the move would take him a step closer to the objective of achieving social justice.

The announcement had its share of reactions from different leaders from within the party and outside, all of them seniors with long political experience. Some have rejected it outright, most of them announced that they were with Mr. Chiranjeevi.. The other political parties though, termed the PRP as a ‘flop’ movie.

(eom)

Past is Past

2010-11-25T02:43:00.001-08:00

HI friends,

The PAST is past, nothing can be done and the future is unknown, unseen and nothing can be done except TAKE CARE. So its all about the PRESENT. Probably just like what Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, of the Art of Living-fame says.

Coming to the present, its very very very important, right ? Every minute, every hour, every day and every action counts. And it is here that one finds the need for GOD, or a superior power, as the non-believers would say. So being a believer, I trust in GOD. End of matter, eh !

Now coming to things at home, both me and wife are forced to get up early, get things done, pack four tiffin boxes and two snack boxes ready. Two tiffin boxes for my baby and two snack boxes for my baby and my wife. The minute we manage to get our baby ready and into the school bus, we heave a sigh of relief.

The sigh doesnt last long though, for we have to get ready ourselves, as in get ready for the office. One might wonder and rightly so, what is great about it when every family goes about this routine every day. If either spouse gets to stretch the legs on the sofa for a minute, its bedlam, as I have faced often.

But then YES, I realise that I need to be just not more active but more pro-active. So it happens that we go on and on and on, fingers crossed, day after day......... :)

Complete realisation - Complete surrender, with the required action

2010-06-07T02:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder which comes first - complete realisation or complete surrender to the One Above. But what one should not forget is that both of them go together with corrective action, whatever be the motivation.

What differentiates the successful and the moderate ones and the-also-rans is also is the fact that they do not do things differently or different things for that matter but just do the things they are asked/paid to do. In this competitive world where the numbers-of-have-nots is increasingly on the rise and one would try to logically put it down to bad luck.

And here the realisation is required that 95 per cent of things and situations in one's life are those which are well within their control and the consequences of which have to be owned up by the concerned person. It is said that only five per cent of life life in general is the uncertain. So here too, if someone thinks that Dame Luck is to be blamed, such persons are proved wrong.

Realisation, surrender and other such feelings do not carry any relevance if the corrective measures are not initiated. Re-invention here becomes a word of paramount importance. And once the person in question gets more number of chances than others, re-invention should be more of an instant nature than with a time allowance.

Here I am reminded of what doctors say about smoking ? There is no fixing a timeframe to stopping the habit. ITS NOW OR NEVER, they say. And in relation with one's life, the best time to do things that they should do is DO IT NOW. And in this case comes the realisation that the re-invention too should be carried out in a manner that best shows results to people.

Results here are also mean re-gaining the lost credibility. And so alongwith a complete surrender what is required are to do those things that will get one back the credibility. The word credibility too, appears to be similar to what they say about character. WHEN CHARACTER IS LOST, EVERYTHING IS LOST, they told us during childhood.

Someone down the line as a person grows in age, the word CHARACTER merges with and into the word CREDIBILITY. And when everyday actions are in tune with these objectives, they comes in progress. And hope on God for things to improve should too, not be BLIND, BUT followed up with the required, corrective action.

Simple Faith to Complete Surrender

2010-04-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

Since childhood, most of us believers are brought up to believe in God blindly. Thats OK. We do too, as in follow our parents' words. We apparently do not think about it very much, accepting that God up there is watching out for us, warding off evil.

Suddenly there comes a situation in one's own life when there is this urgent need for some divine support. And even as one urges God for support, when one knows he or she is atleast partly at fault, how does one go about it ?

I asked this friend of mine for over decades and he quipped, 'Simply surrender urself'. So that sent me thinkin. How does one go about surrendering completely ? So I went to this Sai Baba temple on Minister Road and sat there for a while. Then this pujari comes and asks me, if I was going to stay for 'Aarthi'.

Even as I was wondering why he asked me, he said no one was supposed to leave in the middle of the 'Aarthi' song. So I stayed on. Initially a blank, then some trepidity and then a sort of lull. It took a while for me to realise that the seeming lull was showing signs of transforming into a sense of calm, relative though it may be, the first time.

And the experience at the Sai Baba temple on Minister Road was indeed hard-hitting the first time I visited, actually looking for peace of mind. On earlier occasions, I had simply parked my bike, left my footwear outside, gone in for darshan and came out after a while, all in rather a mechanical mode.

As I said, as my situation continued to be much the same without any improvement per se, I found that visits to other temples too, had a calming effect. It slowly dawned on. The definition of complete surrender. Definitions may be heard from others, read in books or over the net, but I understood that they are best understood only when experienced.

2010-03-28T07:54:00.001-07:00

Its Sunday and one day that never felt like any other. I am surrounded by a maze of thoughts, warped in time, thinking of the future. My mum told me not to think too much into the future but to think short.

I reflect and agree. After all, doesnt Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ask people to 'THINK OF THE PRESENT' ? But what does one do when he's rendered all alone, all on a sudden. Of course, atleast for believers this situation should not happen for with God, the Almighty watching us, no one can truly be alone.

Well, mum, dad, bro, aunt and sis apart there was this amazing call from a very dear friend a couple of days ago. He wouldnt like to be named though, so I shall not. The call that energised me apart, there is this wealth of profundities in his blog. Something that I read today for the first time.

Simply put, if one were to reflect on the reflections in his blog, nothing will cause anguish or pain. While its easier said than done, it certainly is possible for a wee bit of all those 'gyan' to be rubbed off on anyone reading, but with loads of practice for sure.

All right. Coming to a positive aspect of this-being-rendered-alone (even if it is only for a brief period) situation is that I have started writing. And writing not those silly things I earlier scribbled, albeit using the keybooard of a compute, but something that seems sensible, first and foremost for me.

Oh yes, my good friend told not, rather never to feel guilty and I added, something like a last word freak - Yes never feel guilty. Instead start feeling responsible. Now isnt that a wonderful thought ?

God bless me !

Dev Goud and Company leaving PRP

2009-08-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Much as we were expecting such a development, it however came with a bang. One was thinking that Chiru was trying very hard to rectify his mistakes and make a better start with GHMC, than the one he made in the Legislative Assembly.

However, Mr. Goud and company made their re-entry into the NTR Memorial Trust Bhavan raised more than several eyebrows. If some thought it was shot in the arm for the former CEO of AP Inc., some more felt sorry for the megastar-turned-Praja Rajyam President.

All these days, as leader after leader left the Praja Rajyam, people did not take it very seriously, but this one, the latest exodus of leaders whose very name brought to mind the Telangana angle is surely different and much more politically-significant.

Mr. Chiranjeevi now has NOBODY with him. Atleast none that would have mattered in the 'T' factor, so to speak. Where is he going to find the leadership required for the Praja Rajyam to make its presence felt in the GHMC elections. It remains to be as to what the megastar will now do. Will he go ahead as studiously as he did in the past few weeks, or is he going to throw up his hands?

Interestingly, there is one hope for Chiranjeevi and the Praja Rajyam, the fans. Thats what the die-hard optimists, atleast the very few ones left in the party, seem to think so. Will the megastar weave his magic, rather will he be able to? Just like it happens when his movie hits the marquee. Remember? The collections in the urban centres have always been great for any Chiru movie....

Chilkur 2 b plastic-free, soon!

2009-07-27T05:51:00.001-07:00

Hey guys!

Here goes my story dat ws published today. Read on and gimme precious feedback please...

Chilkur soon to be *plastic-free'
Suresh Krishnamoorthy.
HYDERABAD: Chilkur, the home of *Visa Balaji' will soon be *plastic-free', going by a pilot project initiated by the Temple Management Committee making available to thousands of devotees, bags made of handloom cloth supplied by APCO.In about a fortnight, devotees visiting the temple will be able to buy cloth bags to use during their visiti. Committee Chairman and founder-convenor of the Temples Protection Committee, M.V. Soundararajan said the proposal was welcomed by B. Srinivasa Reddy, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles. In the first week of July, the minister convened a meeting attended by Mr. Soundararajan and his son Rangarajan on behalf of the temple and Government represented by APCO MD E. Yellappa and Director, Handlooms and Textiles I.V. Naresh.It was agreed that APCO would supply material in the form of what is called *cotton scrap' at very affordable rates. Consequently, the temple committee placed an initial order of Rs. 5,000 worth of the raw material that would be enough for 1,000 bags. Mr. Soundararajan said the material was now with women who belonged to the local self-help group and others who could offer similar tailoring services at the *Mahila Pranganam' nearby.The bags are expected to be ready in a week's time and the programme is likely to be launched by August 15. Apart from the interest shown by the Handlooms and Textiles minister, it is said that Finance Minister K. Rosaiah too was keen on the pilot project.Mr. Srinivas Reddy said depending upon the way in which the pilot project caught the fancy of devotees, similar projects could be taken up in other temple towns of the State.Interestingly, I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Executive Officer, Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams was said to have spoken to Mr. Soundararajan and discussed about making Tirumala too, *plastic-free'.

Am back again!

2009-07-27T05:49:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

Its been a long hiatus for sure. I definitely agree. And promise that it wont b like dat.

Cheers!

First-ever interview with de megastar!!!

2008-09-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

We will do things differently: CHiru
Suresh Krishnamoorthy/M. Rajeev.
HYDERABAD: Three weeks after filmstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi announced Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), he does not talk of different things, but only *doing things differently'.

This was in response to a question as to what the PRP's economic model was, he clarified that he was not thinking of new programmes to reach out and help poorer sections of people, but only improve implementation of existing programmes by modifying and building on functionalities.

In his first exclusive interview after his political *arangetram', he told The Hindu that did not have an agenda at all, going on to modify his words, saying “I don't have a personal agenda. Whatever the people want is what they will get. Let me go to the people and find out what they need”, he said in response to a question.As for policies, he said the PRP was quite clear on most pressing issues, be it Telangana or the Scheduled Castes categorisation.

However, he agreed that more important were the basics like health, education and welfare programmes, apart from development of infrastructure.An actor with three decades of experience before the camera, Mr. Chiranjeevi is confident of achieving the transformation required to move from *reel' life to *real' life, saying his *emotional binding' with people motivated and *charged' him. “I am very sure of getting at least two-thirds of seats in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly”, he says, confidently.

Asking for some time before fine-tuning his policies, he said in two months' time, the party would have the required infrastructure in place, right down to the mandal-level. While aspirants would have to be in *sync' with his service motto, he does not rule out alliances with other political parties. “Manifestos of other parties are known. We will only have to see how far policies are mutually acceptable before we make allies”, he said.

ends.....

D-Day fast approaching for Chiru!

2008-08-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

party: All set for the big leap - Final touches to Chiru party's policies
Managers busy giving a final shape to policies regarding welfare schemes for the poor
Suresh Krishnamoorthy

HYDERABAD: As the 'muhurat' for launching of film actor Chiranjeevi's party fast approaches, his managers are busy giving a final shape to their policies regarding welfare schemes for the poorer sections.
In interactions over the past few weeks, core members of the team in the yet-to-be-named as-yet-unnamed political party have been dropping broad hints to different weaker sections of society, particularly about their policies in the power sector, rice and housing schemes, as also scholarships to the weaker sections.

Roadblock

It is understood that the party has hit a roadblock when it came to chalking out a firm policy on the quantum of reservations to the backward classes, especially with divergent views being voiced in the wake of the Congress Party's resolve to allot a third of the Assembly tickets to the BCs.
As for the actual announcement of the party's launch, organisers are toying with the idea of holding public meetings in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Tirupati, on the same day with the star hopping from one place to another by a chartered helicopter. The logistics are being worked out and the party discussing various options to get 'maximum coverage' for the launch.

Re-schedule of plans

The reluctance of the managers to reveal details like the party's name, the launch date and composition of the organising committee has also started posing problems for them. In the absence of spokespersons to communicate with the media, it had to re-schedule plans, about which information had got leaked in bits and pieces.
A case in point was the news that the megastar was planning a get-together with film industry bigwigs on August 10, ostensibly to thank them for the support extended to him in his three decades-old film career and seek their continued patronage in his political 'avatar' too. However, since several people misunderstood it as a 'farewell' organised by the star himself, Mr. Chiranjeevi asked his managers to call it off.

(eom)

Its raining ...!

2008-08-09T03:01:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Since Friday evening, its been raining and doing so like crazy. As someone said, it started with raining flies n mosquitoes and then moved to raining cats n dogs. And in about a half an hour, when it rained donkeys n buffaloes, the civic system in much-touted Cyberabad went for a toss.

Half an hour and about 5 cm of rain was enuf to make the administration go bust. And to think that in a few hours about two years ago Mumbai received a whopping 80 cm of Lord Varuna's blessings. The way Mumbaikars got back 2 routine daily life within 48 hours was something that was much-spoken, much-written and much-read-about.

Sigh! Even as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation got its act together and had rescue workers on the roads, the rain picked up again and according to the Metwallahs, it going to be plain sailing, err ... plain n more raining for another 48 hours. Remains to be seen how people cope with the continued dose of Varuna's blessings.

Didnt someone say too much can lead to indigestion? Anywayz, there's one group of people, rather one political party that is thanking its Stars for the rain. Our Chief Minister YSR was admitted getting worried n more worried as the weeks passed without the skies letting up and sending the rain pouring.

Atleast now that that problem has been solved with divine intervention, Hyderabadis can only hope the administration will get its act together and make daily life as smooth as possible.

Au Revoir, Ciao, Cheers n Tata,

Indeworld.blogspot.com

Chiru hunt for 'safe' berth!

2008-07-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Hunt for a safe seat for Chiru
Suresh Krishnamoorthy,
HYDERABAD:

As the launch of film actor Chiranjeevi's political party draws closer, his managers are busy zeroing on a *safe constituency' for him to make a *grand entry' into the portals of the Assembly in 2009.

Among options being actively considered are Palacole in West Godavari district, where his father-in-law and character actor, late Allu Ramalingaiah is domicile. It as also on the scanner because of the sizeable *kapu' population and the people's response for the meeting addressed by the star's brother, K. Nagendra Babu.

In fact, Mr. Chiranjeevi's inner circle is mulling the option of doing an *NTR' by contesting from one seat from each of the three regions to drive home the point that his popularity spans the entire State. In their reckoning are one costituency either in Nizamabad or Karimnagar district in Telangana, and Tirupati Assembly segment or some other in Anantapur district.

Telugu Mahila president Roja, who co-starred the actor in the box office hit, *Mutha Maistry', has declared that she was prepared to contest against the megastar. Ms. Roja had unsuccessfully contested from Nagari in Chittoor district on a TDP ticket in the 2004 Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, party work too has picked up speed and it is learnt that Mr. Chiranjeevi is holding meetings every night with the core planners including Mr. Nagendra Babu, brother-in-law Allu Aravind and advisors Dr. P. Mitra and Dr. A.P. Vittal and T.V. Rao. However, when contacted, Dr. Mitra said none in the party was authorised to speak anything on policy issues and even about politics.

Mr. Aravind's meeting on Wednesday with Chief Electoral Officer I.V. Subba Rao ended on a not-so-positive note. While party activists are on a State-wide drive to motivate people on voter enrolment between July 7 and 18, the Election Commission's deadline ends on July 14.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mitra is flying off to the UK on *urgent personal work'. Initially, he was said to be addressing a meeting of Telugu people from the North Eastern States of America including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, at The Royal Albert's Palace in New Jersey. However, it is not known if Dr. Mitra will participate through video-conference from London or Hyderabad.

(eom)

Chiru - Nagababu!

2008-07-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

Chiranjeevi's party to focuson “good governance”
We are ready for elections whenever they are held, says Nagababu
Suresh Krishnamoorthy
HYDERABAD: “We are ready for the elections whenever they are held,” said K. Nagendra Babu, about the political party being launched by his film star-brother K. Chiranjeevi next month.

Mr. Nagababu, as he is known, did not agree with the suggestion that the timeframe between the party's launch (likely in August) and the elections was too short to gear up the cadre. “Lakhs of film fans and supporters of my brother are already working behind the screen,” the actor said in response to a question about the categorical announcement of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy that the general elections would be held after March 2009.

He dismissed with disdain the opinions expressed in certain quarters that there was no political vacuum for the megastar to fill as in 1982 when N. T. Rama Rao launched the Telugu Desam Party and rode to power, all in nine months. “Only journalists, intellectuals, critics and some political leaders are of this view. We will prove them wrong,” he said in an interview on the sets of the Telugu film “Sarkar” directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, even as several aspirants from Kurnool looking for a role in the new political set up waited for an audience.

Mr. Nagababu, who is a key member of Chiranjeevi's core team handling *public response', justified it by saying people badly wanted a change. “I have visited every district, except Nellore and Nizamabad. The attendance and reaction at my meetings, especially from youth and women, were overwhelming though I am not a star myself. It clearly reveals that people are anxiously waiting to hear my brother speak.”

Draft policies

The burly actor said Mr. Chiranjeevi was devoting considerable time and energy to the party's draft policies and on the logistics of setting the new party rolling. Asked what the party had to offer to people, he quipped, “good governance” which meant different things to different sections.

Mr. Nagababu declined to spell out his party's stand on Telangana, the support he expected from the backward class community and on the date of the party's launch, saying they were ready with policies. But, these would be announced by *anna' (elder brother) as he alone was “big enough” to speak.

Chiru series!

2008-07-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

We are not into hate politics: Dr. Mithra
HYDERABAD: “We are not into hate politics. We are not going to point fingers at anyone but only wish to show how the right things can be done for a better society”, said Dr. Mithra, known as ideologue to film actor Chiranjeevi's proposed political outfit.

He was addressing an impressive gathering of advocates from across the State at a meeting convened under the banner of the Lawyers' Forum here on Saturday.Dr. Mithra referred to Denmark, a country where 98 per cent of voters believed their Government was telling them the truth and asked, “Can we hope for a similar situation here in India?”. It was possible here too, starting with Andhra Pradesh.

The UK-returned gastro-enterologist said it was important for law and order to be maintained in any society. “Can we ever hope for big names to be behind bars if and when they were found guilty?”, he asked, citing the example of how Enron's top executives were jailed in the USA for cheating people.

Over a dozen representatives of bar associations from the districts, spoke on how successive Governments had literally *done nothing' for them. They said it was only a star like Mr. Chiranjeevi who could make a difference by promising social justice, equal representation to all sections of people, maintain law and order, make available basic health and education and implement welfare schemes.

Those present included prominent advocates Metta Chandrasekhar, Bachina Hanumantha Rao, G. Ramesh yadav and Bellamkonda Saibaba. Senior advocate G. Gangaiah Naidu, presided.(eom)

New series on Chiru!

2008-07-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

Sarve Janaa …', says Chiru

Suresh Krishnamoorthy, Special Correspondent.

HYDERABAD: *Sarve Janaa Sukhino Bhavanthu'. “That's all I wished for”, said a smiling megastar, to microphones thrust at him at a temple in Film Nagar early on Tuesday morning.

It was a rare case of K. Chiranjeevi stopping to talk to reporters, breaking his silence of the past few months ever since speculation on his political *arangetram' started doing the rounds.With wife Surekha and son Ramcharan, the star sat down for special poojas before Lord Prasannanjaneya at the temple complex, in the construction of which, film producer Rajendra Prasad was involved. The star participated in fourth anniversary of the temple complex.

As is usual, the visit was kept under wraps for all but the star's inner circles. However, a few shutterbugs and some television channel camera crews were also there to record the trip for posterity.When contacted later, the star's brother K. Naga Babu confirmed to The Hindu that they were busy firming up plans for Mr. Chiranjeevi's political entry and that the actual launch of the party would be in August.

“We in the family firmly believe in giving back to society and to people. Without our fans and people we know were are nowhere. And we are comfortable taking the political route to make a difference in the lives of the poor and downtrodden”, he said. However, he said *most finer details' that were doing the rounds in media circles were not true.

Asked about the proposed political party's flags, Mr. Naga Babu said it was just a flag designed by an *over-zealous fan'. “When the electronic media laid hands on it, they went to town on it, that's all”, he quipped. Ditto was his take on other details that were *leaked' to the media, including the political agenda, its allies and on what its stand would be on the all-too-familiar Telangana issue.(eom)

Courtesy: The Hindu.

Yet another new outfit 2 talk of 'T' sentiment!

2008-06-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Heylooo!

The by-polls are over. But just as people were thinking that talk of 'T' sentiment would recede, atleast temporarily, yet another political party is on the verge of being created. No, its about the megastar's 'mega party' but then one that T. Devender Goud is going to float.

A leader who was for long spoken of, considered and almost accepted as 'Numero Dos' in the Telugu Desam Party, Mr. Goud created a sensation and hogged the media limelight for almost a full week by parting ways with NCBN and the TDP, an outfit that actually fostered him.

But unlike other 'mood' displays by earlier 'netas', Mr. Goud has been extremely gentile and surprisingly very, very accessible for presswallahs. He has been very cordial (some might say he got to, right?) talking to people from different walks of society.

Whatever controversial points that have been generated by the TDP appears to be subjective, things that can be discussed threadbare, but on the face of it, Mr. Goud tone n tenor has been responsible, 'classy' too.

In several circles, Mr. Goud's demeanour has been compared, in contrast to the kind of terminology other political party leaders have been known to use. One does not need to a Sherlock Holmes to decipher, rather deduce who this arrow is aimed at!

So okay, here's to one more party in the democratic fray. By the way, there is every indication that Mr. Goud's political party may be launched before the megastar makes his political 'arangetram'.

Cheers!

TDP follows the Cong bandwagon !

2008-06-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Hello people,

The past week has seen something which was there all along but which people did not expect so soon. There have been instances of TDP leaders hinting at Telangana sentiment and how they would like to see the TDP too, talking about a separate State.

But then all that one saw, rather heard all along were hints. All that appeared to come to the fore with the by-elections with those elected openly saying that 'Yes, we were elected again because people were also convinced with our mode of development, while harping on a separate State'.

Prominent among the TDP leaders who have have appeared to voice their thoughts aloud are Politburo member and Medchal MLA T. Devender Goud and Kadian Srihari who was re-elected from Station Ghanpur.

And even as these 'netas' were going about expressing their thoughts, other TDP leaders took pot-shots at them, saying such leaders were 'free to leave' the TDP to pursue their agenda. Particularly, the way re-elected Secunderabad MLA, T. Srinivas Yadav, appeared to hint that there certainly was more to his words, than met the eye, or was it ears ?

All these slanging matches took place even as NCBN is busy with 'Meekosam' his non-stop public contact programme that is expected to cover as many of the State's 294 Assembly constituencies as possible. Analysts have expressed their doubts it the initial salvo from Srinivas Yadav was motivated or something like that.

People who have observed the TDP from close quarters certainly believe that no leader can talk like Mr. Yadav did, without some kind of authorisation from the Head Honcho himself, of course through leaders from the coastal regions, like Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.

All these slanging matches apart, the fact remains that the committee constituted by the party to check the pulse of the people, as far as Telangana was concerned, has met once after it was formed. Now the way the five-member committee goes about its business will certainly generate news.

All the best NCBN ! Let's hope the 'T' sentiment does not damage too many peoples' political careers.

Jai Telangana !

Success counted sweetest !

2008-06-08T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,

The by-elections are over now. The TRS, which forced another election (Yeah, they are becoming known for it !) on people has found that it bit the short end of the stick (Remember they lost nine seats out of the 16 they contested).

But the results threw up leaders in new light. The way Mr. KCR reacted was received by n large among political circles as something of a drowning man clutching @ straws. It took the not-so-gentle (@least as far as his words r concerned) 'neta' three days to come out of his defeated-frame-of-mind.

In the TDP HQ - NTR Memorial Trust Bhavan, Telungu Desam leaders rubbed it in, making jokes @ KCR. They said KCR's actions in remaining out of camera sight for three days was akin to a boy failing a school exam, making up a suicide drama fearing he would be beaten by his dad. Poor KCR OK, but someone should have told him about coming out of his house.

Political pundits recalled that in 2004, it took NCBN (Read Nara Chandrababu Naidu) just 15 minutes to straighten up, freshen up. Driving down to the Raj Bhavan, a man who is known for his serious expression even had a smile n a flourish as he handed over his resignation letter to the then Governor.

One was reminded of the dignity with which former Karnataka CM, S.M. Krishna, owned up responsibility n said something-like, 'Yes, we do realise we have lost. We will surely have to analyse why we lost'. He even went on to congratulate Yeddy who was taking over as CM. My, my ! Thts height of political decency, decorum, diplomacy n just about whatever. People simply 'WoW-ed' n said 'Hats off to Mr. Krishna !

But amidst all these tales of victories n defeat, one cannot but remember Emily Dickinson n her poem that goes something like 'Success is counted sweetest only by those who have tasted defeat' .. We can only hope that 'netas' who lose in the hustings are reminded of Emily !!

Monday comes with its attendant woes for road-users !

2008-06-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

Heyyllooo !

Monday for most people is the beginning of a new week, preferably a better seven days than the last, right ?

But one has to leave home in peak hour, that too in a car, to realise that anyday, two are better than four. I mean wheels. Of course, while getting caught in a typical jam, listening to R-Mirchi and with air-conditioner in silent (I mean first position) can have a meditative effect.

But still, come on, nothing can be worse than looking at two-wheelers zipping past you - left, right n centre and re-winding 'why-I-did-not-take-my-bike-out' feelings. OKAY. Anyway, coming to a typical place where a jam can b witnessed once school re-opening is close at hand is the stretch on which the reputed St. Ann's School is located in Sec'bad.

The way, parents' vehicles take up road space is like too-too, or three-three or even four-four much. I mean why dont educated parents park their two n four-wheelers closer to the school's compound wall. Forget it yaar ! Hyderabad-mein aiseech hota !

The preliminary outrage apart, once that stretch was behind my vehicle, I just could not help thinking seriously - Why doesn't or what prevents the management n teachers of a supposedly illustrious school to instill road sense among children from a tender age when their thought processes can be moulded.

Of course, it also means parents' mindsets have to change. But then look at it another way. The management of such a famous school does not extend cooperation to the civic authorities and give up some space when the municipal-wallahs go in for road-widening ! What can you do in such a case ?

Its not as if there are no answers. Its a matter of a wee bit of political will and more of administrative willingness to take some seemingly-tough measures !

All de best folks !

The sentiment is out of the bag !

2008-06-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hi people,

The sentimental cat is definitely out of the bag. All those hours, days n weeks spent on discussions, the pros n cons, the ifs n buts, the skeletons in the cupboard, virtually just about everything was out.

Interesting facts these: The TRS gave up 16 seats that it had won on the Telangana sentiment and went on unabashedly to thrust yet another election on people. And all these days through the notification and the campaign, TRS netas, specially the long, big-nosed ultra-slim n wiry thin KCR, that the by-polls this time round were a referendum.

If that were true, if the Telangana sentiment was as all-encompassing as was made out to be, the voters would have given back to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi all the 16 seats NO. Does it sound OK ? Fine, the overzealous, T-sentimental mediamen n women apart, even the more practical, pragmatic journalists fell for it and some admitted that prolly the T-sentiment had been played up.

OK so what happened ? The TRS got just 7/16 seats (about 45 per cent success). While the Telugu Desam wrested four Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats, the ruling Congress Party got five and one. And so the presswallahs were made to sit thru lecture-baazi, the kind they prolly would not have sat thru even in school/college, as every neta worth his/her salt n even those who prolly were not worth their salt delivered lectures.

The TDP called it a moral victory and credited the Congress victories to large-scale 'free' use of money n liquor, coupled with the misuse, even abuse of authority. And what did they say of the TRS ? Well, it got what it deserved. 'People showed KCR his place'. This they said, was the result of the TRS not having done anything concrete, on the ground, except harp on the T-sentiment, a mundane thing that one could not reach out and touch.

Meanwhile, what did Mr. Long, Big-Nose do ? He let is be known that he would resign from the post of party president and promptly went into his house, never to come out for the better part of June One, while his 'chelas' played to the gallery. They poured kerosene on themselves, threatening self-immolation if their neta quit his position in the party.

Mmmmm .. What else ? Oh yes, Charlie Mike (YSR) held a press con in the evening, while an hour before that, the former Charlie Mike (NCBN) held his own press con somewhere near Vijayawada. Remember how Mr. Naidu promised not to return to the State Capital until he had covered each n every one of the 294 Assembly segments in the State - all the way from Adilabad to Itchapuram.

Sigh ... OK. Time for all good men to quit eh !

Is it or is it not - I mean all about sentiment !

2008-05-29T03:24:00.000-07:00

Gawd ! or is it Thank God 'D' Day or is it 'T' Day has arrived.

Since morning, actually every two hours, Bureau Chiefs are getting calls from correspondents across the by-poll territory. Sir this is this, this is that and that is this. So-and-so is the percentage of polling.

The boss invariably asks 'Who are the votes appearing to go to ?" and the reporter replies blah-blah. "So is sentiment working or not ?", asks the boss and the reporter replies blah-blah. Oh-Oh says the boss, taking the onlooker thru a myriad reactions.

It amazing. Actually its funny, sometimes even hilarious. How does any reporter think his/her analysis is good. Its been like this since Day One of notification and predictions comes to their peak. But even then I think, "We got to wait till counting starts NO".

And when counting does start, we will start wondering, "Oh, yeah ! We have a few more hours to go for the Returning Officer or whoever he/she is, to make the declaration NO".

Meanwhile, we have the reactions of political parties to cover NO. Oh ! Gawd. This n That ! Too much. Actually, three, four or even five-much. All right ! Lets wait n C !

A hello 2 myself !

2008-05-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hello !

I just realised that it has bn exactly 2 months since I started dis blog of mine. But sadly also understood that I just hd two posts on March 23 and 24. I decided to promise myself and to the teeny-weeny-itsy-bitsy number of fans that I seem to have, that I will b more regular.

All the best ! (To myself, that is)

Day 2: A Monday n yet something tht people thought ws a Funday !

2008-03-24T05:02:00.000-07:00

Ayyo ! Just as people were shrugging off their weekend blues and were trying to get back onto a serious work-week starting Monday, the damp weather continued to hit Hyderabadis started to take effect and helped retain the typical pre-week-end lazyiness.

Goes without saying that thousands of families made a beeline to Shamshabad, for a look around what is being touted as India's most modern airport. I actually know two families who took it one step further and visited their parents - in Chennai n Bengaluru, just 2 soak in the xperience of touching a truly modern airport.

Wokay ! Did someone call the weatherman ? I dunno. Yeah, someone told me Hyderabad recorded slightly over 11 cm of rain in a 24-hour span. Untimely it surely was, bt no one can deny that it brought with it, much-needed respite. This again highlighted the city's gross inability to deal with just a wee bit more of rain than normal.

Heh ! Just think of Mumbai. Was it just under 100 cm that Mumbaikars had to contend with ? And, gosh ! The way they handled it will surely go down in history books too. I mean , like 36 hours after getting about 100 cm of rainfall, that city was back to normal. Too, too, much and very difficult to believe, but true it certainly was.

When Hyderabadis responded to calls from other cities on Monday and told their friends that it was a lazy start to a fresh week, most people did not believe it. But then given the telly nd the websites that have opened windows ...NO, doors of information to people about whats happening around them, they had to believe it. Damn or darn. The effort it takes for people to make their near and dear believe. Sigh ! ...

Boring, dull n wet week-end, nevertheless historic !

2008-03-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

March 23: Nary a doubt as to the fact that it was a very boring, very dull n very, very wet week-end. Since late afternoon of Saturday, the City has been witnessing a steady drizzle and the past 24 hours, people have been hit by rain that could be described as not just 'mosquitoes n flies' and 'cats n dogs' but as 'buffaloes n donkeys' too !

This apart, this weekend will go in the history books of the over 400-year old City of Pearls as one that saw it truly gain a place on modern international connectivity maps. Yes, that was the worrisome exit of Begumpet as an airport and the ushering in of Shamshabad airport. Even the most basic of parameters of the new airport are truly, truly awesome.

A runway that is over 4.26 km long and an airport that will have the capacity to handle over 12 million passengers a year, apart from having the most expansive parking lot and a complete airport village. Breathtaking sure ! Over the past month or so, there has been a steady stream of reports in the print media and special stories on the telly.

An appreciable point is that fact that every member of the print n electronic media actually saw eye-2-eye and were in complete agreement. No critic of the media could actually point out a difference of opinion. And add this to the typical Hyderabadi spirit with virtually everyone - 'mulki' or otherwise proudly heralding a new dawn, an enviable era in avitation.

Welcome 2 myself !

2008-03-23T02:31:00.000-07:00

Hi folks !

For long I been thinking about blogging. I thought of the entire gamut of the 5 'W's and 1 'H' and then decided. What the hell ? Lemme blog too ! So here I am, an infant among the 'pros' in this world.