Chandrababu Naidu turns star campaigner

AMARAVATI: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, perhaps disappointed by the lesser-than-expected turnout to Krishna Pushkaralu, on Tuesday turned the star campaigner for the event, asking the public to take selfies and photos while performing Pushkaralu rituals and post them on the social media to popularise the festival.

He also asked every person to talk about the Pushkaralu to another 10 people, thus campaigning for it through word-of-mouth. Mr Naidu visited the Pushkar ghat at the historical Amaravati on Tuesday and interacted with the pilgrims. Speaking on the occasion, the CM urged everyone to worship river Goddess and ensure success of the Pushkaralu. “Every person should speak about Krishna Pushkaralu to at least 10 others who will further tell another 100 persons and this chain will attract the public,” Mr Naidu said.

He also told the devotees to upload their photos and selfies on social media and attract others in large numbers. Mr Naidu said that as per a pledge taken during the Godavari Pushkaralu, the state government linked Krishna-Godavari rivers through Pattiseema project. He said that the government has now vowed to link Penna-Krishna-Godavari rivers. He said that bidding farewell to Godavari Pushkaralu and starting Krishna Pushkaralu were the happiest moments of his life and asserted that the river linking was only solution to resolve water scarcity.

Krishna river is the lifeline of nine districts of AP, he said, asserting on the need of protecting the river for future generations.  Mr Naidu unveiled the Krishnaveni river statue, visited famous temple replicas and Yagasala (penance center) where the priests blessed him with traditional rituals. He also paid floral tributes to the statue of the then Amaravati Zamindar Raja V.V. Naidu and met the family members of the Raja. Ministers P. Pulla Rao, R. Kishore Babu, P. Sunitha, P. Narayana and K. Srinivas, Guntur ZP chairperson Sk. Johny Moon, Guntur MP Galla Jayadev, MLAs K. Sridhar and G.V. Anjaneyulu, MLC AS Ramakrishna and others accompanied the CM.