Buzz over Kiran’s meeting

Vijayawada: The public meeting announced by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy during his tour of Krishna district on Saturday to dedicate the Pulichintala project to the nation, in all likelihood, may attain significance in state politics.

As soon as the CM announced that the “Pulichintala meeting” will be held at Vijayawada by November-end or in the first week of December, Congress leaders began discussing whether it would be beneficial to their political future.

The timing of CM’s announcement led to political circles and the farming community attaching significance to the public meeting as the Pulichintala project has not been completed yet, with six of the 24 crest gates still to be erected.

The CM had earlier too announced the schedule for completion of the project and its inauguration, but this schedule could not be kept.?

It is learnt that before the CM’s announcement, some Congress leaders from the district advised him to address a massive public meeting so that the pulse of the people could be gauged, especially at this politically crucial juncture.

These leaders had opined that a meeting to dedicate the Pulichintala project would be the most suitable platform and could well provide an indication to the direction where their political future would swing.

Besides, such a public meeting would provide an opportunity to the CM to address the Congress rank and file from four districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and West Godavari, all from a single dais.

The meeting would also provide an opportunity to involve the farmers, who have not been that politically active of late. “If the farming community comes forward to play an active role, the entire movement (for state unity) may take a new turn,” a senior Congress leader said.

Adding significance to the “Pulichintala meeting” is the fact that the CM’s Rachchabanda meeting at Jagaiahpeta was a huge success, with the CM drawing praise from a majority of leaders and the public for his Samaikyandhra stand.

In this backdrop, a majority of the Congress leaders, especially those who are reluctant to join any other party, are enthusiastic about the “Pulichintala meeting”, as they believe it would establish Kiran Kumar Reddy as a force to reckon with, in Seemandhra.

Former minister and senior Congress leader Mandali Buddha Prasad said that CM’s stature has gone up during the last couple of days. He admitted that some of the legislators have indeed mounted the pressure on the CM to don the mantle of a leader of the region.

“All senior leaders advised the CM to hold the “Pulichintala meeting” in Vijayawada, but without any ulterior motive. However, it may turn into a politically significant meeting,” Buddha Prasad said.?