Swollen Krishna drives N. Chandrababu Naidu out of Undavalli

Vijayawada: Nature seems to have found a way to force former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to vacate his residence located on the Krishna riverbed as flood waters from the swelling river reached it at Undavalli in Guntur district.

The YSR Congress government has issued notice to the building that is owned by Mr Lingamaneni Ramesh. Mr Ramesh has stated that he had secured all the requisite permissions at the time of its construction.

Sources said Mr Naidu was reluctant to leave the residence and is learnt to have asked the owner to approach the High Court for relief as the state government intended to go ahead with its drive to demolish illegal structures constructed on the riverbed in violation of the River Conservancy Act, 1884.

On Wednesday, when floodwaters from the Krishna river reached the former CM’s residence, sand bags were placed to prevent flood waters entering it. The fleet of vehicles belonging to Mr Naidu, his son N. Lokesh and their family members were moved to a private hotel while household articles from the ground floor of the building were shifted to the first floor to avoid damage in case there was more flooding.

Mr Naidu along with his family members has reportedly gone to Hyderabad to avoid the embarrassing situation of his residence getting flooded.

He maintains that he is a tenant but has resisted every proposal to demolish it.

It has to be seen whether he will vacate it once the floodwaters recede or intends to stay there. His critics say the nature in the form of the Krishna river may have changed his mind.

YSRC Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who has filed two petitions in the High Court about the illegal structure, asked Mr Naidu to vacate the building immediately as floodwaters had reached it.

Ex-CM N. Chandrababu Naidu to get security cover with 97 personnel

The AP High Court allowed on Wednesday former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu 97 personnel for his security against his request for 147 personnel that he used to get between 2004 and 2014.

The government, through its counsel, stated that 54 personnel are to provide security cover for a Z plus category protectee. The government said it was providing 97 personnel.

The court did not accept Mr Naidu’s choice of his former chief security officer Bhadraiah continuing in the post and instead made it clear that the posting would be at the discretion of state government. The government informed the court that it was providing two personal security officers as prescribed in the yellow book.

With regard to close proximate teams, state police and NSG disagreed on the terms to provide such teams and the HC directed them to resolve the issue within three months.  However, ex-CM Naidu’s counsel requested the court for interim close proximate protection to him but the court refused to accept it.

The government submitted to the court that it would provide a jammer in the convoy of vehicles of the ex-CM.

Earlier, Mr Naidu had filed the petition in the court seeking enhanced security cover as he faced a threat from the Maoists.