AP Political News

Poll code ends advertisement war

3 Mar 2009, 0000 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERABAD: The advertisement war between the main players Congress and TDP which has been using animations of animals has come to an end with the model code coming into effect.


Henceforth the state government cannot take any policy decisions and the leaders will have to strictly follow decorum in their comments made against their opponents.


State CEO I V Subba Rao said a task force is being constituted which would keep a hawk eye on the parties and the leaders. The tone and tenor of the speeches should be within the guidelines and mutual respect for opponents during public meetings and statements has been emphasised in the model code.


Rao said the Supreme Court had given certain direction in regard to the issue of television advertisements. Accordingly all parties will have to seek the clearance of election commission before airing them. Any violation of this would be treated as contempt of court.


In Andhra Pradesh, the committee to clear TV advertisements would headed by the additional chief electoral officer. The other two members will be joint collector of Hyderabad and deputy director of Doordarshan.


Defacement of public properties, putting up of banners, hoardings and posters on private properties is not permitted. Even survey results are also not permitted.


Extensive video coverage during polls will also be in place along with rapid response system and the citizens can bring any violation of the code and mistake in the electoral rolls. A toll free number 1100 is being set up for the purpose.


Rao said a meeting with all the political parties will be held on Tuesday explaining to them about the do's and don’t's during the campaign. The model code of conduct will be applicable to all the parties.


The SMS and e-mail campaign of the parties will also have to end before 48 hours of the polling. The citizens can complain about such violations at ceo_andhrapradesh@eci.gov.in.

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CM begins candidate selection

3 Mar 2009, 0000 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERABAD: With the election schedule out, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy wants to complete the finalization of candidates for the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies by end of the week.


Reddy decided to focus attention on the identification of candidates and spent the day at his camp office discussing the probable names to prepare a draft list to be ratified by the state election committee of the PCC on March 4. He was joined by his political advisor K V P Ramachandra Rao and later by PCC president D Srinivas in the exercise.


According to party sources, the meeting would continue on Tuesday as well. It is learnt that the there was no problem in regard to about 160 assembly constituencies. The Monday meeting discussed mainly about the probable names for these 160 constituencies. On Tuesday, they are likely to discuss about 120 seats where the number of claimants are more than two.


The list of 280 candidates would be placed before the state election committee of the PCC on March 4 and after it is ratified, Reddy would go to New Delhi and submit it to AICC.


It is also learnt that the chief minister reviewed the situation arising out of the agitation taken up by Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MPRS) activists with some party leaders from the Madiga community who called on him at his camp office. Reddy is understood to have told them that they should go to the people and explain to them how the Congress government had set the process of reservation in motion. The state assembly had passed a resolution recommending sub categorisation of Madigas.

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TDP, Left to complete seat-sharing

3 Mar 2009, 0055 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERABAD: The TDP and Left parties have decided to complete the process of seat-sharing in the next two days so that they can kickstart the joint campaign.


Leaders of the two Left parties met TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday evening and discussed the claims and counter claims being made by each party on certain seats. They also reviewed the arrangements being made for the joint public meeting by alliance partners on March 9 on the city outskirts.


Sources point out that the Left party was demanding about 35 seats each while the TDP was willing to share only 35-40 seats with the two Left parties. The TDP, Left and TRS are locked in a controversy over certain seats particularly in the Telangana region. In many areas in Nalgonda, the Left, the TDP and the TRS are having common claims.


For example, the TRS wants to contest from Bhongir and Suryapet which are considered to be strongholds of the TDP. Bhongir is represented by Uma Madhav Reddy, wife of slain TDP minister A Madhav Reddy. Similarly, Suryapet also has been a TDP bastion till 2004 when Congress wrested the seat.


The Alair seat is presently held by TRS but TDP leaders are putting pressure to get it back. Former minister M Narsimhulu is the contender from this seat.


In the Krishna district and in the north coastal region, the TDP and Left are eyeing certain constituencies. The TDP is insisting that whichever party had won in 2004 should contest from the same seats and no fresh claims on these seats be made.


In case of other seats, they should go by the number of votes polled by each party in the last elections, the image of local candidates and the winning chances. Any miscalculation could become advantageous to the Congress party.


But the Left is unhappy over the TDP's delaying tactics. According to the Left party leaders, they had mediated between TRS and TDP to break the stalemate and made TDP agree over the number of seats it would concede to TRS before TRS made the final announcement to join the alliance. But when it came to finalising seats for Left parties, TDP had been dragging the matter and testing their patience.


However, Naidu told the media that the issue would be sorted out in the next two days and a joint announcement would be made on the issue. The CPM state secretary B V Raghavulu also endorsed the view. He said, in case there are some seats where no agreement can be arrived at the state level, the central leadership of Left parties will talk to Naidu and take a decision.

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Maganti Babu to join TDP on March 6

4 Mar 2009, 0332 hrs IST, TNN


ELURU: In what could be seen as a direct attack on the Congress party for being overtly "Reddy-friendly," former minister Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu) has alleged that Kamma caste leaders have always felt insecure and are given a raw deal in the party.


Maganti, who resigned from his ministerial post after the Congress candidate's defeat in the ZPTC elections in Denduluru, said he would join the Telugu Desam Party on March 6. He said he was cheated by the Congress fair and square.


"When chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy asked me to resign from the cabinet for the Denduluru ZPTC poll debacle, I did it without batting an eyelid in order to improve the image of the party in the district. But, I have realised that I was made a scape goat by the party leadership," he said. "Hence, I had decided to quit the party and join the TDP," he added.


Maganti claimed that despite Kamma caste people's apprehensions, he had stuck with the party as his father and forefathers had a long association with the Congress. "But now, I have come to a conclusion that Kammas will never be recognised in the Congress," he charged.


Asked whether the TDP has offered him a seat, he said the TDP has extended an invitation to him to contest from Eluru Lok Sabha seat.

Cong MLA Vedavyas to join Prajarajyam

Cong MLA Vedavyas to join Prajarajyam


TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Hyderabad: Buragadda Vedavyas, Congress MLA from Malleswaram constituency in Krishna district is all set to join the Prajarajyam party led by Chiranjeevi.While Vedavyas made this announcement in the district, PRP sources confirmed the same over here. He apart from being a sitting MLA is also a known Kapu leader from the coastal area.


Vedavyas will be submitting his resignation to the assembly speaker K R Suresh Reddy on Wednesday and will join the party on February 5, in the presence of party president Chiranjeevi. Vedavyas will be the second MLA from the Congress party to join the PRP from the district. Recently, Vangaviti Radhakraishna, who represents Vijayawada East constituency joined the party.Vedavyas has lost his constituency in the process of delimitation.


According to sources, he was interested in the Machilipatnam constituency which is being represented by the Congress leader Perni Venkata Ramaiah (Nani). Vedavyas wanted to contest from this constituency but is learnt to have been told by Congress leaders that it was difficult to accommodate him from Machlipatnam Constituency. Another reason for his decision to join PRP was the presence of strong Kapu community in the district on whom PRP is banking heavily.


PRP wants to make the joining of Vedavyas a big affair. He will be given party membership in the presence of Chiranjeevi. Another MLA, K Parthasarathi is also expected to join the PRP. His father, former TDP MP from Machlipatnam, K Reddaiah Yadav has already joined the PRP.




NTP may contest under PRP symbol


TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Hyderabad: The Nava Telangana party led by T Devender Goud has decided to make its first move towards possible merger with Prajarajyam Party. The party has decided to take shelter under the PRP umbrella and contest the polls on the symbol of PRP.


In an informal chat with newsmen on Tuesday, Goud said that his party and PRP had forged an alliance and felt that that it would be advantageous to contest the elections on a common symbol.


This would help the NTP more he said as they can hold joint campaigns and can reduce the confusion among voters if they have one common symbol. Both NTP and PRP are registered parties. Once it qualifies to be known as a recognised party by the EC, it can be allotted an election symbol. He recalled a precedent when in 1983 Sanjay Vichar Manch led by Maneka Gandhi fought election in the state with the support of TDP using its poll symbol -Cycle.


PRP is trying to get a common election symbol for the party candidates during the 2009 elections. But if it fails in its attempt then the two registered parties will have to choose from the 59 free symbols, Goud said.



Chiru fans burn his party flags


NIZAMABAD


Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi was disappointed with the arrangements for his Praja Ankita yatra on Tuesday. Citing poor public response at Madhavanagar, Dharmaram and Dichpally mandal headquarters he did not address the gathering. He was embarrassed by the poor turnout at Puppalapalli, Madanpally, Amrad route road show in Jakranpally and Makloor mandals.


The PR chief reportedly scolded the leaders who were responsible for these shows.


Disappointed over not being able to see Chiranjeevi, his fans burnt party flags and staged a rasta roko on the Nizamabad –Hyderabad road. Chiranjeevi halted for the night at Madhavnagar village on the outskirts of Nizamabad and resumed his yatra in the afternoon.


The PR president passed through Dichpally, Puppalapally, Madanpally, Amrad, Manikbhandar and Makloor. In the evening he resumed his yatra and was happy with the good turnout at Nandipet mandal headquarters.

Balaiah promises Rs 2,000 crore for BC welfare

Balaiah promises Rs 2,000 crore for BC welfare


TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Kurnool: Film star-turned-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna promised that Rs 2,000 crore will be allotted for BC welfare, if the TDP voted to power.


Addressing roadshows in Bethamcherla town on Monday, he said the TDP government had implemented several schemes for the BCs’ welfare.


He also promised 25 paisa interest loans and free education to BC students. Balakrishna concentrated on BC welfare during his roadshows as the region is BC-dominated. On Monday, he also addressed roadshows at Dhone, Banaganapalle, Koilakuntla and Allagadda after winding up his successful tour to Anantapur district. Heavy crowds were seen all along the roads. Balakrishna criticised the Congress government for failing to check rising prices and said this is the most corrupt government ever to have ruled the state. He predicted that the people will teach a fitting lesson to the Congress in the coming elections.

INFIGHTING IN PRP TAKES NEW TURN

INFIGHTING IN PRP TAKES NEW TURN

Nani quits Prajarajyam

TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Hyderabad: The infighting within the Prajarajyam party took a new turn with the Vijayawada district urban convener Kesineni Nani quitting the party alleging that there was no social justice within the party.


Nani at a press conference on Monday alleged that the party had become a ‘family affair’ and was being run on the basis of whims and fancies of people like Allu Aravind and others.


Charging Chiranjeevi of planning to earn Rs 2,500 crore in the name of elections by taking money from the prospective candidates, he said the actor turned politician wants to be in a win-win situation whether the party performs well in the polls or not.


He said Chiranjeevi should bring social justice within the party first and only then people will trust his claims of ushering in change and social justice if the party comes to power. Chiranjeevi who swears by Mother Theresa and Jyotirao Phule should practice their teachings and lead life like them before preaching which he has been doing during in his roadshows now, he said.


The differences between Nani and Chiranjeevi began with the incident in which the Vijayawada district convener M Vijaya Nirmala’s husband was reportedly beaten up by Nani’s followers in the city recently. Vijaya Nirmala is said to be a relation of Chiranjeevi.


Following a complaint from Vijaya Nirmala on January 26, party general secretary Allu Aravind summoned Nani to Hyderabad and reprimanded him. He was also served with a show cause notice. Following this, Nani decided to quit the party.



Chiru eyes two assembly seats


TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Bichkunda (Nizamabad): Prajarajyam Party president Chiranjeevi said he is contemplating contesting from two assembly constituencies in the coming elections even as he ruled out a hung house.


There is a huge demand from PRP leaders and fans to contest from Tirupati and Mummidivaram in East Godavari district, he said and added that he would decide on the issue at a later stage. He said the PRP would contest from all the seats for the assembly elections.


Ruling out an alliance with the BJP, he said the people would give a clear mandate to a single party only and hoped they would elect the PRP with a thumping majority.


Talking to newsmen here on Monday, he emphasised that social justice is the party’s prime priority and it would spare no efforts to implement it in all the three regions of the state. Chiru reiterated that PRP was committed for a social Telangana instead of a ‘landlords and dorala Telangana’.


Asked about the TRS decision to join hands with the grand alliance, he opined that unable to digest with PRP slogan of social Telangana, TRS leaders might have joined hands with Telugu Desam and Left parties.


Admitting that he had praised TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu before, Chiru said: “I wrongly assessed them but now, I have come to know the reality after entering the public domain.”


Commenting on CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s criticism that he hasn’t done anything for his native Mogalturu village, the mega politician asked what kind of development YSR had done to his Pulivendula when he was in opposition.

Vote-on-account session may be stormy

Vote-on-account session may be stormy


2 Feb 2009, 0258 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERBAD: With the grand alliance now firmly in place, the brief ten-day vote -on-account session promises to be a stormy one. The floor leaders of alliance met here on Sunday evening and finalised the issues they would raise during the session and the strategy they should follow to put the government in the dock.


The session would begin with the governor's joint address to both the houses at 11 am followed by the meeting of the business advisory committee. This being the last session before the general elections, the opposition parties as well as the ruling Congress want to utilize their lung power and rehearse for the electoral campaign. While the opposition parties want to highlight and force a discussion on the Satyam fraud and the manner in which government had handed over projects worth more than Rs 30,000 crore to Maytas, the Congress party wants to counter the opposition by raising the alleged fraud in Heritage.


Realising this, the opposition party leaders who met on Sunday decided to dare the government to take action if it had concrete evidence of any wrong doings. Meanwhile, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy asked the opposition not to waste the time on frivolous issues and said he was ready for a discussion on any issue. He said even now the government was ready to take a delegation of opposition party leaders round the country and let them compare the progress made by Andhra Pradesh and other states. The opposition wants to highlight power problems in the state, corruption in irrigation, shortage of funds of BC SC welfare hostels etc.


In the last four years, 79 projects have been taken up under Jalayagnam, 30 lakh pumpsets got free power and the domestic power tariff was never hiked in last five years.


According to senior members of the assembly, the 12th assembly had witnessed lowering of its decorum by resorting to accusations and counter accusations. Quoting a survey report of a private TV channel, they said the amount spent by ex-chequer on the time consumed by the chief minister to criticise the opposition leader is said to be about Rs 2 crore and the time taken for it was 67 hours. Naidu consumed 8 hours to launch counter attack and this costed the ex-chequer Rs 50 lakhs. Though so far the assembly had sitting of 284 days no short discussions or call attention motions could be taken up.


Similarly while 2480 questions were filed only 980 came up for discussion.

TRS ends suspense, joins TDP-led alliance

TRS ends suspense, joins TDP-led alliance

1 Feb 2009, 0436 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERABAD: Battlelines for the 2009 general and assembly elections in the state were finally drawn on Saturday after Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that his party has joined the grand alliance forged by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Left parties.


After much dithering and wrangling over seats, KCR made the announcement in the presence of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s residence on Saturday evening and claimed that the combine will easily secure 200 assembly seats. But on the issue of the number of seats being shared, both Naidu and KCR refused to divulge saying they want to delay making it public as a strategic move.


But TDP and TRS sources said both sides had agreed on 10 Lok Sabha seats and 45 assembly seats for the TRS. The announcement of TRS joining the TDP-Left combine was made after hectic consultations between the two leaders at Naidu’s residence at which the TRS chief’s son and other party leaders were also present.


“Our aim is to defeat the Congress and work for separate Telangana and that is what made us go with the grand alliance,” KCR said. He also denied that the announcement was delayed on account of non-agreement over seat-sharing. “Seat-sharing was not the issue at all as was speculated in the media. Some give-and-take attitude will always be there to achieve an objective and here, our aim is to defeat the Congress party,” he said. With this, three major forces have emerged ahead of the elections. While the Congress is going it alone save the help of MIM in Hyderabad, Prajarajyam and T Devender Goud are likely to form a front while the third one would be that of the TDP-TRS-Left.

Goud slighted by TRS chief

Goud slighted by TRS chief

2 Feb 2009, 0257 hrs IST, TNN


HYDERABAD: NTP president T Devender Goud feels slighted by TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao who refused even to talk to him on phone on Friday and went ahead with firming up an alliance with TDP and Left parties.


An angry Goud on Sunday alleged that KCR was playing the role of a broker to help N Chandrababu Naidu become chief minister. He said KCR had done the same thing in 2004 when he had an alliance with Congress party.


At a press conference, Goud said that in the process, KCR had left the issue of separate state at crossroads by forging alliance with those parties which are opposed to Telangana. "For KCR, what matters is to remain at centre stage of politics. For him separate state is not the main agenda", he said.


Agreeing with PRP president Chiranjeevi's comment that it was Mayakutami, Goud said NTP and PRP would expose the "great betrayal" by TRS. "The grand alliance has one single point agenda and that is to make Naidu the chief minister", he said. He predicted that TRS would bite the dust in the elections and the state politics was in for a change. Only PRP and NTP would render justice to the cause of Telangana.


He said TRS has a moral responsibility to explain to the people as to why it had shown so much of vacillation and why it finally decided to go with TDP and Left parties whom KCR had been criticizing all these years.