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Greater Hyderabad is Going to Expand Further

Even though its becoming difficult for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to provide infrastructure and other amenities in several municipal circles, 20 more gram panchayats are to be merged in to it. While the Ranga Reddy district has proposed merger of over 50 gram panchayats in the Corporation, the GHMC is hesitant to take so many. It wants inclusion of only 20 gram panchayats in Greater Hyderabad as the new villages might become a burden on the civic body financially and revenue from these villages might be meagre at least for the next five years. When the Greater Hyderabad was formed in April 2007, a notification was issued to merge Shamshabad, Mamidipally, Satamrai, Jalpally, Mankhal, Almasguda, Sardarnagar and Raviryal and objections and suggestions were invited from citizens. Sensing legal hurdles as the gram panchayats had more than four years term, the state government withdrew its notification and merged only 10 surrounding municipalities. As the term of elected bodies in most surrounding villages like Shamshabad, Almasguda and Nizampet would come to an end in August, the Ranga Reddy district administration has begun the exercise to merge peripheral villages in Greater Hyderabad. From GHMC side, the authorities are planning to send a resolution to the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department on inclusion of nearly 20 urbanised villages, which are close to the city and have witnessed growth in the last few years. Officials sources said, the 20 gram panchayats that have been proposed to be merged are Shamshabad, Mamidipally, Satamrai, Jalpally, Mankhal, Almasguda/Tukkuguda, Sardarnagar, Raviryal, Peeranchervu, Hydershakotla, Bandlaguda Jagir, Manikonda, Poppalguda, Narsingi, Kokapet, Nizampet, Bachupally, Kompally, Boduppal and Balapur. GHMC had passed a resolution for merger of new villages and sent it to the MA&UD department. "Since there was no elected body and the standing committee in the corporation when the first resolution was taken up, now the proposal to merge 20 gram panchayats will be placed before the standing committee on the advice of the state government," a senior GHMC official said. The MA&UD department is likely to issue a notification on merger of new areas in the GHMC next month by inviting objections and suggestions from the respective gram panchayats. However, the state government has the authority to take a final decision on the proposals.  

Akbaruddin Attack Posters Create Flutter

The deadly attack on MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi is still fresh in the minds of people. Even as the legislator's health condition is improving in the hospital, some miscreants are trying to flare up passions in old city areas since Monday night. According to police sources, the posters containing a cluster of pictures where Akbaruddin was shown in different postures after receiving gunshot and dagger wounds first appeared in Darul Shifa area and on Tuesday at numerous other localities from Charminar and Malakpet to Karwan and Asifnagar assembly segments, which the police removed promptly apprehending clashes. The police officials say that this is the second such instance where the MIM supporters have gone on the offensive. Last week, the MIM channel 4TV aired select footage of the attack on Akbaruddin. The related CD showing an already wounded Akbaruddin being stabbed by a person has been seized and its telecsast was stopped because it could have led to attacks on the alleged assailants and their families. However, the police have neither registered any case in regard to posters nor arrested anybody. "We have identified some people responsible for the mischief. Suitable action would be initiated against them soon," the police said.  

Nagam T-Nagara Boom Cracks TDP

'T-Nagara', a public meeting organized by senior TDP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy in support of the on going agitation for separate statehood has brought cracks within the party. In fact, Janardhan Reddy defied the party diktat and went ahead with holding the meeting. However, later Chandrababu Naidu's announcement that Nagam has the clearance to conduct T Nagara, didn't go well with several leaders, including a few from Telangana like M Narasimhulu. They demanded disciplinary action against Nagam for taking independent decisions. Some of the Telangana leaders in Telugu Desam Party like R Prakash Reddy and E Dayakar Rao were of the opinion that no action should be taken against Nagam since he was fighting for a separate state. "The TDP is not against separate Telangana," they said. Asked why Nagam was organizing meetings on his own, they said it had the acceptance of party president N Chandrababu Naidu and minus the party flag and tag, it would become easy to enlist the support of all pro T organizations. Sensing the divergent views among the party leaders, Naidu held a meeting with senior party leaders and heard the view point of both sides. Naidu felt that Nagam's meeting should not be opposed lest the party may face embarrassing situation in the region. He, however did not indicate whether he would initiate any action against Nagam but postponed the issue for May 12 when the politburo would meet to discuss the agenda for the three-day 'mahanadu' to be held from May 27 at Gandipet. Sources in the party indicate that the politburo would also take a decision on the size of the coordination committee on Telangana and the names of the members. In all probability, a 12-member coordination committee would be constituted. Nagam, who was the convener of the TDP T forum, is unlikely to find a place in the committee.  

Georgia Tech University May Not Come to AP

There are clear indications that the US based Georgia University is not interested in starting Georgia Institute of Technology in Hyderabad and Vizag. In 2007, Georgia Tech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the AP government to set up two campuses in the state. A 250-acre plot was allotted to the university at Shamshabad for the Hyderabad campus and another 70-acre plot was earmarked for its campus in Vizag. Now, in a clear indication of the university's disinterest in the venture, authorities said they would wait for Parliament to pass the foreign universities Bill before taking a final decision on setting up an offshore campus in the state. Since then no activity in setting up of the institutions has been taken up by the university. Unofficial inquiries made by a newspaper with the university authorities reveal that the university is in no mood to go ahead with the projects. University authorities say that they would wait for Parliament (U S) to pass the foreign universities Bill before taking a final decision on setting up an offshore campus in the state. University spokesperson Lisa Ray Grovenstein said the varsity is thinking of starting distance education courses in India. This would help students who are already enrolled in the university's Atlanta campus to study in India. About 40% of the students in the university are from Andhra Pradesh. The university has also tied up with industries and academic institutions such as IIT in the state.  

Ministers Unhappy With CM Kiran Kumar Reddy

With Kadapa byelections over, several more ministers have joined the existing ones in expressing unhappiness over chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's style of functioning. Back from Kadapa bypolls campaign, the ministers met the CM yesterday and conveyed their disapproval at the way the things are being handled by him. Congress candidate for Pulivendula Y S Vivekananda Reddy is said to have refused to rejoin the cabinet when CM requested him. Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy, who took on Jagan Mohan Reddy in Kadapa bypolls told Kiran Kumar that the CM's decision not to change Kadapa collector as sought by him would prove costly for the government. Mines minister Galla Aruna Kumari also conveyed her unhappiness to the CM at the way the regime was being run, transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana asked why the government failed in containing Jagan Mohan Reddy, when it was quite clear that the bypolls were inevitable with mother and son quitting their posts. The dissent in the cabinet is on the growing as evidenced by yesterday's happenings. Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, who is considered to be very close to the CM, is treading on path of revolt after Kiran refused to take him to New Delhi to finalise the annual plan allocation. Anam's grouse is that Kiran has taken a junior D sridhar Babu, civil supplies minister along with him instead of the FM. "The presence of the FM at the meeting with the Planning Commission for finalisation of Plan allocation is very crucial. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy never missed taking his FM K Rosaiah. Taking a junior minister is a deliberate insult to our leader. Kiran perceives Anam as a threat and therefore did not want the latter to become familiar with the central leaders, says the aide of Ramnarayan Reddy. Even there's also a growing disapproval against the CM among many MLAs. Some MLAs complained to the high command that Kiran Kumar Reddy doesn't have any respect for Speaker in the assembly, he never addresses the chair either as Speaker or Dy. Speaker. Telangana region Congress ministers and MLAs are unhappy with Kiran because they feel that he is using D Sridhar Babu and MLC Ranga Reddy in convincing the high command that there is no hurry as such to resolve the T-issue immediately. To top it all, Kiran Kumar Reddy's relations with PCC president D Srinivas are not so cordial either. Reportedly, DS has already met AP affairs party in-charge Gulam Nabi Azad and complained against the chief minister. There could be more such complaints against Kiran Kumar when Gulam Nabi visits AP in this month. The high command may even think of a change of guard, provided a clear leader is figured out to take the reins.

Jagan to Get 4 Lakh Majority: Kadapa Exit Polls

It looks like a certainity now that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy will emerge victorious by 3 to 4 lakhs majority in Kadapa LS bypolls, predicts an exit poll survey. The survey, commissioned by a website, covered all the seven assembly segments in Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, and interviewed voters in 50 representative polling areas. It emerged that Jagan's YSR Congress Party will bag more than 70 percent of the votes in Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. The survey was conducted on March 1 and 2 and around fifty representative polling areas, across the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, were selected on the basis of voting trends in 2004 and 2009 Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections. The sample interviewed for the survey included the socio-economic demographic profile of both men and women in the various regions of the constituency. According to the survey, Jagan will get around 7,70,000 votes, while Congress,  Telugu Desam Party and Independents will together secure less than 3,30,000 votes, which is less than 30 percent of the total votes polled. The projection was based on an assumption that nearly 11 lakh out of a total of 14 lakh voters might turn up for voting. It concluded that Jagan will win with a margin of more than four lakh votes.    

Jagan Effect in Telangana Region

Will there be any Jagan effect in Telangana region after he emergrs victorious in the just held bypolls for kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly constituencies? Yes, say the political observers and predict unexpected changes in the political equations in almost all the north Telangana districts. Though there was lukewarm response to YSR Congress at the time of that party's emergence, feelers from political circles indicate that the post-election scene would certainly bring about drastic changes in the region. In Warangal district Jagan party has got two MLCs and an MLA, but the second rung leadership in the district remained undecided after the Mahabubabad incident last year. This scenario is going to change once the results of Kadapa bypolls are out, say the YSR Congress leaders in the district. Similarly, in Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts also there will be spurt in support to Jagan Mohan Reddy, provided he spills out his stand on the Telangana issue.  

Congress Mulling Over Dy Chief Minister For AP

If the grapevine is to be believed, AP is going to get a deputy chief minister from Telangana region shortly to tackle the renewed movement to carve a separate state out of Andhra Pradesh. The pro-Telangana TRS party and TJAC have vowed to intensify their stir for a separate Telangana from this month. The ruling party is believed to be gearing up to appoint a deputy chief minister from Telangana region to counter the T-agitation. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to have discussed the issue with the Congress leadership during his visit to Delhi last Friday as the pro-Telangana forces including its own MPs are set to intensify the movement. If the Congress party agrees to bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, it will open a Pandora's box with similar demands in other parts of the country and hence it wants to maintain the status quo, sources in the party said. Minister for Major Industries J Geeta Reddy and Minister for Higher Education Damodar Rajanarasimha are the front runners for the post. While naming Kiran Kumar as the chief minister November last year, the leadership had also announced that there will be a deputy chief minister from Telangana region. The appointment is to honour agreement signed at the time of formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 that Telangana should have a deputy chief minister if the chief minister is from the other region. KV Ranga Reddy became the first deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1960. JV Narasing Rao, BV Subba Reddy and C Jagnnadha Rao were the other former deputy chief ministers. This practice was discontinued in 1970s. Telangana leaders say this violation was one of the key reasons for the demand for a separate state.

TDP Calls For Politburo Meet on 12 May

The Telugu Desam Part is to hold its politburo meet on 12 May. This politburo meeting gains significance in the wake of its holding just two weeks ahead of the party's Mahanadu scheduled for during 27 - 29 May. Latest political scenario in the state is likely to figure prominently at the meeting. The meeting will also discuss the outcome of Kadapa Parliamentary and Pulivendula Assembly segment by-election results, which are scheduled to be announced on May 13. Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu will discuss strategy to be adopted in the event of fall of government as a section of YSR Congress party MLAs and MPs are believed to be contemplating to submit their resignations from their elected posts. The politburo meeting will also discuss the strategy to be adopted in the 2014 general elections if the YSR Congress Party candidate wins with large majority. The meeting will also discuss on Telangana state formation as Centre stated that it would took a decision on the issue after the outcome of election results in five states.  

Akbaruddin Owaisi Attack Case: Progress

It is well known that MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was attacked upon 10 days ago during his 'Padayatra' in Barkas area of Chandrayangutta constituency, which Mr. Akbaruddin represents. The Central Crime Station (CCS), Hyderabad, officials are investigating the case. During 10 days of investigations Police have arrested 8 accused so far and 6 accused remain to be arrested. The police have named 25 witnesses in the case of murder attempt on MLA including Mansoor bin Mohammad Awlqi (corporator Barkas), Mahmood bin Mohammad Awlqi, Habeeb Osman (Akbar's car driver), A Ramulu (SI Chandrayangutta police station who was present at the crime scene), Mohammad Jani Mian (MLA Ahmed Balala's gunman), Mr. Mohsin bin Ahmed alKasiri, Mohammad Saleem Khan resident of Gulzar Houz Charminar, Mohammad Fayaz Khan of Pahadi Shareef, Mohammad Ghouse (owner of Marhaba hotel), Samad bin Abdat (Uppuguda corporator), Mirza Mustafa Baig (Riyasathnagar corporator) Mr. Ahmed Balala (Malakpet MLA), Mirza Maqsood Ali Baig, Rasheed Khan, Mirza Sarfaraz Baig, Mohammad Hameed, Mohammad Asif Khan, Shaikh Mahmood, Revenue officer Hyderabad Dr. P Hari Krishna, G Dev Raju, Mr. Niazuddin (subinpector of police Chandrayangutta), Mr. Mohammad Ismail (ACP Santoshnagar), Mr. G Shankar (SI CCS) and Mr. M Srinivas Rao (ACP). CCS officials have already recorded statements of 12 witnesses out of 25 under 161 CRPC and further investigation is underway. As Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi's statement assumes importance in the current investigations, police wanted to proceed further by recording his statement. It is said that a police team led by assistant commissioner police CCS Mr. M Srinivas Rao went to Care hospital yesterday and consulted the doctors seeking permission to take Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi's statement. According to highly placed sources, doctors of Care hospital denied permission and the CCS officials team had to return empty handed.  

Chandra Babu Naidu Buckles Under Nagam Preasure

Not heeding to the party supremo Chandra Babu Naidu, Telugu Desam MLA, Mr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, launched "Telangana Nagaara" meeting at Nagarkurnool in Mahbubnagar district yesterday. Earlier Mr. Janardhan Reddy gave an ultimatum to the party chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, that if the party fails to announce its commitment to Telangana by the first week of June, he would tender his resignation and submit the same to the Speaker. Speaking at the meeting, Nagam Janardhan Reddy said that the T-movement would be intensified from June and warned of severe violence if there was any move to suppress it. "I am not scared of anyone. I am committed to Telangana and will fight till the end for it. Our fight is against Andhraites who have looted Telangana over the years and not against ordinary folk," he said while addressed the huge rally. Even as the meeting was underway, in a strategic move to ensure that there was no split in the TDP, party chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced that 'Telangana Nagaara,' (public meeting) organized at Nagarkurnool by Nagam Janardhan Reddy had his clearance. According to politburo member E Dayakar Rao, Naidu also said that the T leaders were free to organise any kind of programme, keeping in view the aspirations of their constituents. Interestingly, much earlier to Naidu's announcement, 6 TDP MLAs - Mr K. Harishwar Reddy, Mr S. Venugopala Chari, Mr Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, Mr Jogu Ramanna, Mr Jaipal Yadav and Mr Ramulu besides Mahabubnagar district TD unit president, Mr Manohar, former Minister, Mr K. Vijayarama Rao were already participating in the meeting.  

Kiran Kumar Blamed For Mishandling Kadapa Bypolls

Though the Kadapa bypoll results are yet to come, the exit polls and the general mood of the voters indicate victory of both Mr Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother Mrs Vijayalakshmi with huge margins. A blame game has already begun in the Congress even before the results for the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly seats are released. What is even worse is that none of the top leaders are confident enough to say that the party candidate and health minister, Mr D.L. Ravindra Reddy, would secure the second place. With the probabale outcome of the bypolls clearly predictable, Congress leaders are trying to find out excuses for the anticipated debacle. According to sources close to Kiran Kumar Reddy, the CM was opposed to state health minister Dr. D L Ravindra Reddy's candidature from the very beginning. Moreover, CM has overplayed in spite of advice from his senior colleagues to keep Kadapa campaign a underplay to avoid embarrassment in case of losing. But Kiran Kumar's over enthusiasm to corner Jagan Mohan from all sides sent adverse signals to the electorate. Voters got convinced that Jagan must be rescued as he happens to be late YSR's son. While the Kiran Kumar camp is trying to put the blame on PCC president for recommending wrong candidature of D L Ravindranath Reddy, the health minister is in turn unhappy with Y S Vivekananda Reddy and family for openly seeking votes for Jagan as part of their strategy to appeal to the voters to chose him for the Pulivendula Assembly seat.

Somayajulu Decision Puts Kiran Kumar in Tight Spot

As per the prevailing norms, the state advisors including D A Somayajulu have submitted their resignations when Kiran Kumar Reddy took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in November last year. In an unexpected move, Somayajulu took decision to quit immediately as state economic advisor and plunge in to active politics by joining the YSR Congress and urged the CM to accept his resignation. This unexpected decision of Somayajulu has certainly put the chief minister in a tight spot as Somayajulu enjoys enormous clout with at least five to six cabinet ministers and an equal number of IAS officers and at least one IPS officer. The apprehension in the Kiran camp is that thanks to Somayajulu, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy can become privy to key issues being contemplated by the state government. Somayajulu had played a key role in the YSR regime implementing the free power sop and the reason he is shifting to the Jagan camp is believed to be the presence of Rajya Sabha MP K V P Ramachandra Rao who Somayajulu's aides claim stymied the influence of the latter. More than this, the move is being read as the economic advisor's vote of confidence in Jagan and against Kiran.

Chiranjeevi Son-in-law Still Eluding Police

The Central Crime Police is still in the dark about the whereabouts of Mr Sirish Bharadwaj, husband of Ms Srija, daughter of the Praja Rajyam chief, Mr K. Chiranjeevi. However, the police is sure that they will attain a breakthrough in this case in a couple of days. Bharadwaj went absconding ever since his wife, Ms Srija, lodged a complaint at the women police station (WPS) attached to the Central Crime Station (CCS) charging Sirish with harassing her for dowry. The police is finding it difficult to track him down as he is not using any mobile to avoid being caught. Though the city police knows where his parents are, they are not questioning them as they want to first nab Sirish Bharadwaj and then his parents.  

Vizag Students on NASA Mission

As many as seven Indian teams are participating in the final round of a National Aeronautical and Space Administration (Nasa) competition to create a device to mine precious elements on the moon and bring them back to earth. Twelve international teams have been selected by Nasa, the premier space agency of the US, and of the seven from India, one is from Visakhapatnam. The challenge is for students to design and build a remote controlled or autonomous excavator. The Lunabotics mining competition will be held in the US from May 23. The team from Visakhapatnam comprising students of GITAM University has prepared a robot that will crawl along the hostile terrain of the moon, picking up regolith (moon dust) and depositing it in a container for shipment back to earth. Nasa will test the efficiency and durability of the robots in an artificial atmosphere resembling the lunar terrain. The task given to each of the teams is that their robots should collect and deposit a minimum of 10 kg of lunar simulant within 15 minutes.

Chiranjeevi Not Aspiring For CM Post

Actor turned politician and founder chief of Prajarajyam Party Mr. Chiranjeevi said that he isn't aspiring for the CM post. Rumours are afloat that Mrs Sonia Gandhi was impressed with his campaigning, particularly in Tamil Nadu. In Kadapa too, he was the star campaigner. He's being tipped off as the next chief minister of AP by the Congress sources. Mr. Chiranjeevi, who was in Visakhapatnam to attend to a private function spoke to media at the airport. Talking to reporters, he said he was keen to resume his acting career, but said he was surprised at some reports in the media that he was being tipped to become the next chief minister. The Congress leadership has asked me to campaign in Kadapa, "Tamil Nadu and West Bengal elections, which I have done to my satisfaction, said the PRP chief.  

Kadapa Bypolls Went Off Peacefully

The much touted Kadapa bypolls went off peacefully. However, stray incidence of violence were reported in the last two hours of polling in few places of Pulivendula and Kadapa assembly segments. Contrary to expectations, the poll percentage dipped to 70 per cent in Kadapa against 75 per cent in the 2009 general elections. In Pulivendula, however, a massive voter turnout of 81 per cent, three per cent up from the general elections. With a large number of women casting their votes, the trends suggested that the mother-son team of Ms Vijayalakshmi and Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was heading for a landslide win. Adding strength to the prediction was the unusual criticism from the Congress and Opposition TD that the EC had totally failed to ensure free and fair polling. According to the DGP, Mr K. Aravinda Rao, the police had to fire in the air at Siddagaripalli Village in the Pulivendula Assembly segment to disperse a mob when the Congress and the YSR Congress Party supporters clashed and threw stones at each other. The health minister, Dr D.L. Ravindra Reddy, who took on Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, was accused of destroying an OB van of Sakshi TV owned by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and attacking the staff of the media house.  

TRS, TJAC Differ on Support to Nagam

Both Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Telangana Joint Action Committee have different opinions over supporting the rebel Telugu Desam MLA, Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy's proposed campaign for separate Telangana and public meeting to be held at Nagarkurnool on May 9. The TRS has refused to align with Dr Reddy, but the TJAC has extended its support to his campaign. TJAC convenor Prof. Kodandaram welcomed Dr. Janardhan Reddy's decision to take up the Telangana cause, but asked him to do more to instil confidence in Telangana people and to prove his sincerity. Replying to the question whether TJAC would participate in the meeting, Kodandaram said "We will discuss the issue with committee members and take appropriate decision over participation. But one should understand that Nagam has defied the party diktat to hold the meeting. We need to appreciate that." He also asked Dr. Reddy to quit his party, if he is to have credibility on the T-issue as TDP has not clarified its stand so far.

Satya Sai Trust Appoints Bhagawati as SSSIHL Chancellor

Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust appointed Justice P N Bhagawati as chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) yesterday. Stating this in a statement, senior trust Member V Srinivasan said the decision to appoint Bhagawati as the new chancellor was taken by the trust at its meeting here in the morning. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was officiating as the chancellor of the university till his demise on April 24. "With Bhagawan Sai Baba leaving his body to the heavenly abode, we have appointed Justice Bhagawati to function as the chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL)," senior trust Member V Srinivasan said. The central trust had decided to continue Prof Shashidhar Prasad as the VC of the deemed university. Prof Prasad was former VC of Mysore University. While Sri Sathya Sai Medical Institute of Higher Learning was merged with the central trust when Baba was alive, SSSIHL continues to be an independent trust. Sources said Baba wanted SSSIHL also to be merged with the central trust for effective co-ordination and monitoring of financial aspects of all the trusts. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust also took another important decision of appointing three co-opted members for the public charitable trust SSSIHL. Justice A P Mishra, former Supreme Court judge, Prof S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor, Madras University, and R J Rathnakar, Baba's nephew and trust member, were made the members.