President Pranab Mukherjee’s first Telangana visit after bifurcation

Hyderabad: President Pranab Mukherjee was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived here on a 10-day southern monsoon sojourn to Hyderabad.

This is the his maiden visit to TS after its formation last year. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his ministerial colleagues, MPs, legislators and officials welcomed the President on his arrival from New Delhi at the Air Force Station, Hakimpet.

AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on the warpath with his TS counterpart after the cash-for-vote scam was not present.

Mr Rao took everyone by surprise by touching Mr Mukherjee’s feet while Mr Narasimhan, chief secretary Dr Rajiv Sharma, and others, welcomed him with bouquets.

Mr Naidu was busy holding a medical and health review meeting at the Secretariat.

Everyone had expected that two CMs would come face to face during the President’s arrival function for the first time after the cash-for-vote scam.

Things have been tense between the two CMs and ruling parties after the TS ACB caught and arrested Telugu Desam MLA A. Revanth Reddy offering Rs 50 lakh to Anglo-Indian nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson for a vote MLC polls.

Mr Rao was present with his full team, including Assembly Speaker Madhsudhana Chary, deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy, deputy CMs Mohd. Mahmood Ali and Kadiam Srihari, agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and others.

The President will stay at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, Secunderabad. Mr Mukherjee has a hectic schedule during his visit, including a trip to Tirumala on July 1, the launch of TS government’s Haritha Haram green drive at Yadadri, launch of the book Uniki — written by Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao.

The government has made elaborate security arrangements at Rashtrapati Nilyam. Mr Naidu and his team are likely to call on the President soon.