Capital issue triggers Fresh troubles in Seema

  Ruling TDP government of Andhra Pradesh has made it clear to Shivarama Krishnan committee that it would to build the new capital between Guntur and Vijayawada in an area of 15,000 acres. Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana accompanied by a high level delegation has conveyed this to the committee members yesterday.   He said it would be ideal location because it is exactly in the center of the state and can be easily reached from anywhere in the state. However, the minister said that committee can take an appropriate decision on his suggestion. But, the committee members, who met Chief Minister Chandrababu few weeks ago have made it clear that they will only suggest suitable location, but it is state government that has to take a final decision on where to build the capital. So, now the ball is in the state government’s court and it can be understood that AP capital is going to emerge between Vijayawada and Guntur cities only.   However, if the government prolongs to announce its decision, it may definitely inviting fresh troubles. Already these developments ignite sparks in Rayalaseema, to where actually Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy belongs. Several groups and forums were formed during last few days in Rayalaseema, to pressurize the government to build the capital in their region.   Noted story writer Kethu Viswanatha Reddy has also joined this fight for capital. He said “Government’s plan to build the capital at an already developed area will widen the gap between the neglected Rayalaseema region and rest of the state, which may lead to separate state agitation again. Chandrababu argues for equal justice to all people. So, he should justify Rayalaseema, the most backward region in the state by building capital. There are plenty of vacant government lands are available in the region, whereas hardly there is any land available in the identified area for the new capital.”   So, CM Chandrababu has to pacify the people of Rayalaseema before going ahead with his plans of building capital between Guntur and Vijayawada cities, otherwise he should get prepared to face fresh troubles from people of his own region.

YCP defeated because of Pawan Kalyan: Roja

  YSR Congress party president Jagan Mohan Reddy alleges that his party was defeated because the people have believed false promises made by Chandrababu Naidu. However, he admits that his party was defeated because of over confidence of winning the elections. This reveals that if he has any doubt about his party’s victory, definitely he also opts for crop loans waiver promise that gives edge to TDP over YCP in the elections. However, it is really interesting to hear each other day some one or the other from YSR Congress party, finding a new reason for their party defeat. Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, YCP MLA from Punganuru, Chittoor district blames Sakshi media for the party defeat. He blames that Jagan and YCP leaders have become over confident because of the stories aired and published by Sakshi media that describes “It is just a cake walk for YCP to win the elections.”   Then comes the turn of Roja, a YCP MLA from Nagari from Chittoor district. She blames power star Pawan Kalyan for the defeat of the party. She said power star sudden alliance and presence with TDP-BJP has altered the electoral chances of YCP.   So, it seems YCP leaders are gradually realizing their mistakes, but still they are not ready to admit them. However, each other day they find a good reason for their party defeat. At least if they could do some soul searching and rectify their mistakes, instead of merely counting their mistakes and transferring them onto TDP,  it may be helpful to their party future.

Unending Miseries of Congress high command

  Congress party’s failure to retain power at Centre is showing its adverse effects on the party. First, many of its leaders dare to blame Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the party defeat, which stops them from taking charge of the party in the parliament. The elections effect further carried forward and betrays its chances to get leader of the opposition party status in Loksabha. Instead of feeling ashamed for its miserable situation, it is preparing for a legal fight with NDA government on this issue.   As if this is not enough, it got another jolt from Maharashtra and Assam. Two of its senior ministers- Narayan Rane in Maharashtra and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam have resigned to their posts in protest against party’s decision to continue the present Chief Ministers Prithivraj Chavan and Tarun Gogoi of Maharashtra and Assam, despite their failure to lead the party to victory in the recent elections.   There is no secret that both these rebel ministers are raising banner not because of the CMs' poor show in the elections, but as they both are eyeing CM posts. If the same yard stick is applied to their high command also, both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have to quit their President and Vice President Posts of the party owing moral responsibility for the defeat. So, the Congress high command which initially prepared to replace both CMs has changed its mind fearing that the outgoing CMs will raise the banner against them both. But unfortunately they both struck with this dissident trouble.

Over smart realtors create artificial hike

  Ever since AP CM hints that he prefers to build the new capital city between Vijayawada-Guntur cities, the realty business in the surrounding areas triggered and there was sudden and steep rise in the land costs. Though, one may relate the increase to demand and supply formula, actually some realtors, politicians, big businessmen are behind this steep rise.   Those, realtors, politicians and businessmen, who already acquired hundreds of acres of lands are said to be artificially creating this hike by registering the sale agreements of a small piece of their lands with market price, which is four or five times to the government rate. Then, it will become the market price of the land. In case if the same land is sold, they will register them with market price but collects the market price in black. As a result government is losing huge revenue.   There is another intention also behind this idea. Since, government is planning to build the new capital between Vijayawada-Guntur cities and there is scarcity for the government lands, government has to acquire private lands from these realtors and politicians only. According to the new land Acquisition act, if government plans to acquire land, it has to pay highest market price of that piece of land. So, are these money hungry and greedy realtors and politicians are registering a small of piece of their vast lands with market prices. Though, Deputy CM KE Krishna Murthy warns them of taking severe action, still this practice is said to be continuing in the VGTM areas.

మహారాష్ట్ర మంత్రి రాణే రాజీనామా

  మహారాష్ట్ర మంత్రివర్గంలో ఒక వికెట్ పడింది. మహారాష్ట్ర ముఖ్యమంత్రి రాజీనామా చేయాలని గత కొంతకాలంగా రాజీనామా చేస్తూ ప్రభుత్వంలో అసమ్మతి నాయకుడిగా మారిన మంత్రి నారాయణ్ రాణే రాజీనామా చేశారు. తాను మంత్రి పదవికి రాజీనామా చేస్తున్నాను తప్పితే, కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీని విడిచిపెట్టేదే లేదని రాణే చెబుతున్నారు. తనకు పక్కలో బల్లెంలా మారిన రాణేని పృథ్విరాజ్ చౌహాన్ వ్యూహాత్మకంగా మంత్రివర్గం నుంచి తానే తొలగిపోయేలా చేశారన్న అభిప్రాయాలు వినిపిస్తున్నాయి. నిన్న మొన్నటి వరకు పృథ్విరాజ్ చౌహాన్‌ని ముఖ్యమంత్రి సీటు నుంచి తప్పించి రాణేని ముఖ్యమంత్రి చేస్తారన్న వార్తలు వినిపించాయి. అయితే ఇప్పుడు రాణేనే మంత్రి పదవిని వదలాల్సి వచ్చింది. దీనినే రాజకీయం అంటారేమో!

Decisions Reflecting

  Some recent decisions taken by AP and Telangana governments’ are directly reflecting on each other. AP Government’s decision to increase the retirement age limit of the state government employees from present 58 to 60 years, had its effect on Telangana state government employees. They demand the T-Government to implement the same for them also, but T-CM KCR has promptly rejected.   Then, T-Government’s decision to regularize all the contract employees working in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) encourages the contract employees of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to demand the AP government to implement the same policy for them.   GVMC Employees and Workers Welfare Association honorary president M Ananda Rao, speaking to media at Vizag said “There are around 6550 contract employees working in GHMC for last several years. However, none of them are entitled to have any benefits declared by the government. Therefore, I take this matter to CM Chandrababu Naidu’s notice few days ago and appealed him to regularize all the contract employees by filling up the large number of vacancies existing in GVMC. We are still waiting for the response from the government.”   The number of contract employees working under GVMC or any other state government department is a clear indication for that much number of employees are required for a smooth running of the systems. So, in other words it can be considered as vacancies to be filled, but the departments are running the show with the contract employees because of lack of sufficient funds or many other reasons. Hence, the contract employees demand for regularizing the jobs can be justified.

Land Acquisition act becomes hurdle

  The new Land Acuquisition act 2014 approved by the parliament during previous UPA government regime has becomes now a major hurdle in acquiring the lands for building the new capital city and for other infrastructure development activities for the AP government. According to the new act, government has to go through a very lengthy process to acquire the lands from private persons and the farmers that may take not less than a couple of years. Moreover there are several clauses that guarantee job opportunities, price equivalent to current market prices, legal rights, very attractive compensation etc. There is also lengthy process created in the new act for taking consent of the land owners.   So, Andhra Pradesh government which needs huge lands for building the new capital city and for developing the infrastructure facilities finds this new act very hard to implement. So, the state government is planning to utilize the available government lands first instead of going for private land acquisition. This will also eases the financial burden on the state government.   So, Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishna Murthy asked all the districts collectors to submit reports on available government lands, assigned lands and other lands that can be utilized for building the new capital and infrastructure development.   Simultaneously, the state government is also writing a letter to Centre appealing for relaxation in the new Land Acquisition (RR) Act. Probably, NDA government may consider its request because, it may receive the same kind of requests from other state governments also in the coming days, as it is planning for various development activities in a very large scale all over the country. In case, if the NDA government is averse to change the new Land Acquisition (RR) Act, then the state government has to plan its development activities utilizing the available government lands in the state.