NETA NATTER | NAIDU PROMISES WORK-FROM-HOME FOR ALL?

If there is one thing Covid-19 did, in addition to destroying our health to some degree or the other, it is popularising the work from home concept. The WFH method did save a lot of organisations and jobs. With its popularity now well-established, it was just a matter of time before it became a poll plank. Taking this forward in this direction is Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, whose contribution in turning Hyderabad into an IT hub is a fact he never fails to remind people of. His latest promise that he will ensure that people can WFH if his party comes to power in Andhra Pradesh has raised several eyebrows, including that of YSRC MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy who wanted to know how Naidu can keep his promise as the TD leader had included even the police. Now, that is a poll promise that is impossible to keep, YSRC folks have been gleefully pointing out.

HYDERABAD COPS PLAY FAVOURITE WITH PROTESTERS

What’s up with Hyderabad’s cops? Some protesters are given more of a free hand than the others. The case in point is the periodic ‘Chalo Raj Bhavan’ protests that resulted in the people wondering if the cops use different yardsticks for different folks. Just take what happened the other day. One group of TSRTC employees, supporting the BRS government, was allowed to reach the Raj Bhavan gates, while another not aligned with the BRS was stopped a good distance away. Similarly, a protest by the BRS workers was allowed to reach the gates of the high security Raj Bhavan zone. Clearly for the cops in Hyderabad, it is a case of different strokes for different folks.

RAJINIKANTH SHOWS YSRCP WHO’S BOSS

Don’t mess with Thailavar. This is the message some YSRC folks in Andhra Pradesh have been getting after hearing superstar actor Rajinikanth’s speech at a pre-release event of the movie Jailer where the actor said, “There is no dog that does not bark. There is no mouth that does not criticise. There is no city where these two occurrences do not happen. But we should not concern ourselves with such matters. Instead, we should focus on our work and keep moving forward. Neeku arthamaindha raja?” YSRC folks took this as an affront to its leaders who had earlier criticised Rajinikanth and began trolling the actor on social media but did not expect a stronger blowback from Rajni fans. As the saying goes, don’t mess with Thailavar.

THE MYSTERIOUS TALE OF JAYASUDHA AND THE BJP

Veteran Telugu movie star Jayasudha who recently joined the BJP is expected to have her work cut out once she gets working to impress upon the community she belongs to, to support the party of her choice. Jayasudha, who won as an MLA from the Congress in the past, left that party and after a circuitous route by the way of the TD and the YSRC joined the BJP. Though she had been planning to do so for a while now, her new-found political home has not gone down well with some in her community. During weekly prayer gatherings, the question slowly doing the rounds is why has she joined the BJP, which is seen as a party with a tilt towards one community.

KTR GETS MOBBED FOR SELFIES IN NIZAMABAD

Whatever Opposition parties may say about Telangana state minister K.T. Rama Rao, and his efficiency as a minister or allegations of corruption, the man remains popular with selfie seekers as witnessed in Nizamabad the other day. Such was the rush to take pictures with KTR that people started to crowd the dais and, at one point, the BRS leader had to call out to some and warn them of the danger of falling off the stage as they tried to make their way towards him by walking along the edge. Selfies are fine, but safety is a must was the message many received in the process.