Sonia Gandhi’s photos are back on state ads

Hyderabad: The photograph of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is repeatedly appearing in state government’s advertisements.

This is being interpreted by many as a sign of change in the attitude of the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy towards the bifurcation of the state.

The absence of the CM in the Assembly on the day the Telangana Bill was tabled in the House triggered doubts about his stand on the issue. However, the CM clarified in a recent press conference that he was absent due to an illness.

All the same, Seemandhra leaders, including Congress MLAs, continued nurturing doubts about his stand.

As it happened, when the CM inaugurated the prestigious Pulichintala Irrigation Project in Krishna district on December 7, 2013, the photograph of Sonia Gandhi was conspicuously missing in the advertisements released by the state government.

The Seemandhra people continued to strongly hope that the CM would stall the division of the state. However, after the Telangana Bill reached the Assembly, the situation has changed. The CM is now being seen as a foe by some Seemandhra leaders and a friend by the Telangana leaders.

Seemandhra leaders now believe that the CM is cooperating with the high command to form Telangana state.

Seen in this background, the state government’s latest advertisement, released on the occasion of “Good governance” award being conferred, is being seen by Seemandhra leaders as corroboration of their belief that CM had changed his stance with reference to the state bifurcation.