Leaders in a dilemma over Kiran Kumar Reddy

Vijayawada: With rumours rife that the present tour of the district by N. Kiran Kumar Reddy may be his last as the Chief Minister, Congress leaders are in a dilemma whether to take up pending issues related to the district with him. 

The leaders are considering the fact that several of the promises Reddy had made earlier have not been implemented so far and the elections are about six months away.

As per the schedule, the CM will reach Jagaiahpet on Saturday morning and participate in a Rachchabanda public meeting and a function to distribute assets. Reddy is expected to interact with Congress leaders of the district and legislators at this function.

Under normal circumstances, six months before the elections, ruling party leaders would have requested the CM for release of funds and completion of projects.

However, the circumstances are far from normal, with the state bifurcation issue and the very future of the CM under speculation.

How the CM would react to their requests is the question that has put the Congress leaders in a dilemma.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress and TD leaders are opposing the tour, pointing out that several of the CM’s promises have not been fulfilled so far.

Reddy had promised the inauguration of Pulichintala project and initiation of the Machilipatnam port. Similarly, he had promised municipal employees that GO 010 would be implemented.

Apart from this, several important projects like flyover at Durga temple, super-speciality hospital, completion of delta modernisation works and road development projects proposed by the legislators are pending.

Moreover, funds have not been released for construction of retaining walls on the banks of the Budameru rivulet and the Krishna River.

However, the CM had released funds for acquisition of land for the Gannavaram airport.

Cops foil lawyers’ protest

Cops foil lawyers’ protest

Vijayawada: Tension prevailed at Gandhinagar in the city for some time on Friday after police arrested members of the Bezawada Bar Association, albeit after a brief tussle, while the lawyers were on their way to stage a rail roko.

Earlier, members of the Bezawada Bar Association and Seemandhra Lawyers’ JAC had decided to block rail traffic at the Vijayawada railway junction to mark their protest against the moves on division of the state.

They started their rally from the courts complex to the railway station, but were stopped by the police at Gandhinagar.

The police arrested over 25 lawyers, including JAC chairman M. Jayakar, members S. Rajendraprasad, K. Srinivasa Reddy and others.

Before his arrest, Jayakar said that the lawyers would fight till the last minute, demanding united AP.

He said that only those who support Samaikyandhra would survive politically and warned Union ministers from Seemandhra that they would have to face the wrath of the people.

Kiran will resign for unity: Lagadapati Rajagopal

Kiran will resign for unity: Lagadapati

Vijayawada: Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal on Friday alleged that the some politicians were plotting against Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy in order to get him sacked from his job soon.

Speaking at a Rachchabanda programme at Veerulapadu mandal Rajagopal said that the Chief Minister was ready to forsake his post for united Andhra Pradesh.

“As soon as the Telangana Bill is put for validation in the state Assembly, Reddy would vote against it and resign from his post in support of Samaikyandhra,” Rajagopal said.

The MP said that there were several ways to stop the bifurcation of the state and vowed to make all possible efforts to do so.

Kiran Kumar Reddy launched various schemes like Bangaru Talli, zero interest loans, free education for SC/ST students, free electricity for those consuming up to 50 units and several other welfare schemes for the welfare of the people of the state, the MP said.

Rajagopal drew flak from the people at the Rachchabanda programme for arriving late to the venue. The restless crowd climbed on the stage, demanding release of pensions and ration cards that were promised in the earlier phase of the programme.

Later, TD MLA T. Prabhakar said that the Congress government was not in a position to bother about the problems of the people.

He alleged that Congress, in a hurry to get votes in both Seemandhra and Telangana regions, had decided to bifurcate the state.