Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who has avoided meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi since February, is now most likely to avoid meeting President Draupadi Murmu when she arrives here on December 26 during her maiden visit to Telangana after assuming office on July 25 for the southern sojourn.
Murmu, the BJP-led NDA candidate in the presidential elections, did not campaign in Telangana although she visited Andhra Pradesh. She was supposed to campaign in Hyderabad on July 12, but the trip was cancelled due to heavy rains.
Rao had backed the joint opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha. On July 2, he held a rally in Hyderabad in support of Sinah. In light of this, TRS sources say Rao is unlikely to receive Murmu, and there is a chance the CM will travel to Delhi for five days beginning December 26 to focus on BRS expansion plans.
Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Friday reviewed the arrangements being made for the President's visit with senior officials of various departments.
During her five-day sojourn, Murmu will visit the Ramappa and Bhadrachalam temples and participate in local programmes. She will also take part in the unveiling of the Har Dil Dhyan, Har Din Dhyan campaign plaque at Kana Shanti Vanam, Ranga Reddy district, to commemorate the sesquicentennial celebrations of Sri Ramachandraji Maharaj of Fatehpur by Sri Ramchandra Mission.
Somesh Kumar directed officials to collaborate and prepare for the President's visit. He directed the GHMC commissioner and the CEO of the Cantonment Board to take up road repair works and barricading so that traffic to the Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolaram, flows smoothly.
Bandobast arrangements have been delegated to the police department. He directed the electricity department to ensure 24-hour power supply, the medical department to deploy medical teams, and other departments to make necessary arrangements at Rashtrapati Nilayam in accordance with protocol.
The CS also requested that proper arrangements be made for the smooth conduct of Sri Ramachandraji Maharaj's 150th birth anniversary celebrations, which are scheduled to take place from the January 25 to February 3 at Kana Shanti Vanam, Ranga Reddy district, and is expected to draw over one lakh pilgrims from all over the country.
DGP M. Mahendar Reddy directed officials to coordinate with all departments in order to avoid any shortcomings in the arrangements. The review meeting was attended by Special Chief Secretaries, heads of departments, and other senior officials at BRKR Bhavan.
