Srikakulam(Andhra Pradesh) district villagers continue protest against thermal power plant project

                                    

Andhra Pradesh(Srikakulam): A year after three villagers died in police firing on a group opposing an upcoming thermal power project, the struggle by people of Kakrapalli in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district is still on.

The relay hunger strike by the villagers demanding scrapping of the project entered its 564th day on Wednesday while protestors also unveiled a memorial as a mark of tribute to those who died in the police firing Feb 28 last year.

"We will not settle for anything less than scrapping of the project as it is not only poses a threat to the ecology but also endangers the livelihood of fishermen and farmers," M. Narsingh Rao, a member of the Navalapadu thermal power Vytherka Porata Samithi, which is spearheading the anti-project protest, told reporters over phone from the north coastal Andhra region.

The former IAS officer, who served as secretary, finance and power in the government of India, said the wetland was illegally allotted to ECEPL. He said the project should not have been cleared by the ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for thermal projects.

Former bureaucrat and activist E.A.S. Sarma on Wednesday wrote to union Minister of State for Environment Jayanthi Natarajan, urging her to stop the project coming up on the wetland by cancelling the environmental clearance.

While waging a legal battle, the Samithi is continuing with the protest. Hundreds attended a meeting it organised Tuesday to pay tributes to those who died in police firing.

The East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd (ECEPL) is building a 2,640 MW thermal power plant at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore in the swamp, barely 2.5 km from the Bay of Bengal.

Sarma said the construction activity resulted in depriving hundreds of traditional fishermen of their livelihoods, flooded thousands of adjacent agricultural lands and adversely affected small traditional salt farmers.

"The newly constituted EAC had listened to the company's version without giving an opportunity to the villagers to represent their case. This is patently illegal and undemocratic. Even at this stage, it will be appropriate for MOEF to invite the villagers to give their version," he wrote.

Sarma also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against "promoters of ECEPL and the project clearances obtained by them by deceit".

Fishermen claim that the project coming upon on 3,333 acres of land has already affected their livelihood. The farmers face inundation of their 30,000 acre farmland in 59 villages as the project has obstructed the natural flow of water to the sea.

Kovur by-poll: LokSatta and National Congress Party candidates file papers

                                  

The Lok Satta(LSP) and National Congress Party(NCP) candidates filed nominations for the Kovur by-election in Nellore district on Tuesday.

Lok Satta nominee Nellore Narasaiah, accompanied by his party activists, arrived at the Kovur tehsildar's office and filed his papers.

With the by-poll garnering a lot of attention, many parties are keen to prove their strength by entering the contest. Supporters of West Bengal cadre IPS officer, Pattapu Ravi, have started making election campaign arrangements as he is contesting on Bahujana Hitakarini Sabha.

Mr. Kondapalli Guravaiah filed the nomination on behalf of NCP. Sk. Kalesh Saheb entered the election fray as an independent.

The party leaders asserted that Lok Satta was the only alternative at a time when political parties were mired in corruption, favouritism and inefficiency, bothering little about good governance and people's welfare.

With YSR Congress, ruling Congress and TDP strongly vying for the seat, the by-poll has turned into a keen triangular contest.

2 fresh cases of swine flu reported in Andhra Pradesh

                                 

Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad): Two fresh cases of swine flu have been reported from two private hospitals here, a top health official said on Tuesday.

"Two H1N1 positive cases have been identified and they include a male and a female. The patients are admitted in private hospitals and their condition is stable," Andhra Pradesh State Coordinator for Swine Flu Dr Subhakar told today.

Allaying the concerns, Subhakar said there was no need to panic as such sporadic cases are reported intermittently.

"There is no hazard for transmission of such cases and that the situation is well under control," he added.

Psycho man creates terror in Tenali town

                                      

TENALI (Andhra Pradesh): nevertheless the intense surveillance taken up by nearly 20 special police teams, a man continues to create terror in and around Tenali town by selectively attacking women and girls. Women are under tremendous stress to venture out during the night after the 'psycho' attacked at least 6 persons in the last two weeks alone.

Sources said the stranger was shedding his clothes soon after coming across women or girls at the hostels in the night and terrifying them by breaking into a dance before them. Even before the other inmates wake up, the psycho vanishes from the scene.

Last week, he entered a retired teacher's residence and attacked him and his wife. Subsequently, he closed the doors of the room in which the granddaughter of the elderly couple was sleeping and reportedly danced without clothes. He reportedly asked the girl to take off her clothes and beat her up when she resisted his attempts. Before this incident, the psycho created panic in the women's hostel on the outskirts of the town, which the hostel management initially dubbed as a house-breaking attempt by a robber. Following series of incidents SP visited Tenali and formed around least 20 special teams and asked them to be on continuous night patrol In Tenali.

Late on Monday night, the psycho attacked another woman. Upon information, the police teams rushed to the spot but failed to catch him. Under pressure from locals, police brought two innocent youths and beat them up ruthlessly. Eye-witnesses told the police that the person terrorizing the women would be around Thirty years of age.

Two kids die as school bus plunges into canal in East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh)

                                 

Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh): Two students were killed and 15 went missing when a school bus fell into a canal near here in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, police said.

The bus, carrying 45 Lower KG and Upper KG students of  Sai Teja Public School and its own staff overturned and fell into the Godavari river canal near Ganti Pedapudi village.

Thirty children were rescued by locals, they said. The sources, however, said the total number of students in the bus could be over 50 and "we will have a clear picture only after collecting the details of the children of the school and students who had boarded the bus on the way".

Four bodies have been recovered so far and a search operation has been launched for the missing students, police said, adding some students were injured in the accident.

Expert swimmers from Rajahmundry and Kakinada were requisitioned for search operations. Due to darkness and heavy flow of water in the canal, the rescue operations were hampered. The authorities sought the help of local fishermen, who tied fishing nets at the Gannavaram main irrigation canal at Mondepulanka to stop the missing children from being washed away. Aggrieved parents of some of the students reached the mishap site, 65 km from Rajahmundry. With locals from nearby villages rushing to the spot, traffic movement was affected .

"The villagers rescued 15 children and brought out two bodies. Since no more parents have come forward searching for their children till now, we assume there were no more children in the bus since the driver had dropped some of them mid-way," a revenue officer, overseeing the rescue operations, said. But locals said there could be 5-6 students when the bus plunged into the canal.

Sources said the buses of the private schools were not in proper condition. The authorities had seized one of the four buses of the school for bad maintenance six months ago.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed District Collector Neethu Kumari Prasad to provide adequate medical facilities to the injured who were admitted to a nearby hospital, officials said.

The driver of the ill-fated bus was untraced, police said adding and a search was launched to locate him.

Authorities pressed into service divers to trace the missing students in the canal, police said.

Australia: India beat Sri Lanka inside 37 overs and gain a bonus point

India managed a stunning batting display to ensure their chances of qualifying to the final of the CB series were still alive as they beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets on Tuesday.

Chasing Sri Lanka's total of 320 runs, Virat Kohli was the star for the Indians as he scored a blazing century to ensure India completed the herculean task of getting the target in less than 40 overs.

The win takes in India a bonus point, critical to their contention in the tri-nation series. Qualification although tough, is now possible with the two Asian nations tied with 15 points in the table.

India now hope for a favour from the hosts; who can trigger their qualification if they beat Sri Lanka by a margin that makes the islanders' run rate slip below that of India. Australia, who have beaten Sri Lanka just once in the three encounters in this series.

India needed to a achieve a run rate of over 8 an over - a bar that they were never far off from through their entire chase.

The mainstay of the Indian chase however was the stand between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir who added 115 runs in just 18.1 overs. The partnership was ended by a brilliant run out by Dinesh Chandimal.

 

For the first time in the series, Indian openers looked in command of the early overs but Sehwag's tendancy to have a go at every ball dealt India a severe blow after his partnership with Tendulkar had crossed fifty. His partner, who has had dual responsibility for almost a year now, perished to a deceptive low full toss by Lasith Malinga.

India reached the target within 37 overs, putting the pressure on Sri Lanka to sprint even at the last hurdle in the series, one that seemed non-existent before India's batting display.

Power crisis hits industries in A P

                                 

ANDHRA PRADESH : A major industrial crisis is staring at Andhra Pradesh with the small and medium industrial units threatening a lock-out following the decision of the power utilities to force the industrial sector to observe, what is effectively, a 17-day power holiday in a month. This is in view of the decline in quality power crisis.

The power utilities have issued notices to about 1.61lakh small and micro industrial units effective February 29, that they should observe 2-days power holiday in a week along with the regular weekly off. Apart from this, they have been told that no power would be supplied between 6 pm and 10 pm everyday in the name of peak load adjustment. Along with the 12 days forced by the three-day a week power occlusion, the four-hour shutdown between 6 pm and 10 pm would translate into 120 hours of closure or another 5 days of holiday in a month. As a result, the industrial units can work for only 13 days in a month!

On Monday, representatives of 17 small and medium industrial units in and around Hyderabad served lock-out notices to joint labour commissioner Ravi Bhushan Rao stating that the power crisis and the holidays enforced on them is virtually sounding the death knell for them even as other units across the state prepared to follow suit. "We are forced to close for 17 days in a month. We cannot survive under these circumstances," said APK Reddy, president of small and medium industrial units association. Many other industrial units have decided to announce lay-offs so that they can save on salaries. "I will bring the issue to the notice of the state government as the power cuts issue does not fall under the purview of the labour department," Ravi Bhushan Rao told TOI.

Nearly 6,000 units located in and around Hyderabad have decided to go for 15-day lock-out in a month so that they need not pay full salary to the workers. Nearly 13 lakh workers are employed in these units and they are set to receive only half the monthly salary from March onwards. "With only half the month's salary, how does one wait the worker to survive in this metro city," asked a trade union leader in Miyapur industrial estate.

In all, 37 lakh workers are employed in the 1.61 lakh small and micro industrial units across the state. Thanks to the power crisis and the power holiday, the unemployment rate is set to drastically increase in the coming months due to the lock-outs and lay-offs. Industrial units in Chittoor, , Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad Kadapa, Anantapur and Medak are also planning to go for lock-out in order to minimize their losses as the production in their units has come down to less than 50%.

"Normally, we take up extra production in January and February as there would not be any power cuts in these months. But because of the 17-day power holiday, we would not be able to meet the production targets this year," said a company owner in Jeedimetal industrial estate.

Even as many small and medium industrial units face closure due to the unprecedented power crisis, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is promising to provide 15 lakh jobs in the private sector during the next three years under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu. "The state government is taking away jobs on the one hand and is promising jobs on the other. Isn't there a bigger irony," said one official.

Ironically, it is the political decision of free power to the agricultural sector that has triggered the power crisis in the state as the dole meant to keep the farmers happy accounts for 40% of the total power consumed in the state. "At present, we are not in a position to give any relief to the industrial sector as the Rabi season is at a crucial period. Any shortage of power to agriculture would adversely result in crop damage," said a senior energy department official.

Trade unions strike: Banking, transport likely to be hit across India

New Delhi: India may grind to a halt for the next 24 hours as a nationwide strike by trade unions and government employees has been planned for Tuesday. In all, 11 trade unions across party lines along with 8lakh public sector employees with the exception of those in the Railways are expected to participate. Banking, transport and government services are likely to be hit across the country including major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Unions leaders who have rejected appeals to desist from the strike said all 11 major trade unions including Congress-affiliated INTUC, Shiv Sena-backed Bharatiya Kamgar Sena and UPA ally Indian Union Muslim League's trade-wing STU would join hands to make the strike a success.

The main grudges of the unions on strike include rising prices, disinvestment of profit-making PSUs and the violation of labour laws.

"This a historic occasion as for the first time all the major trade unions irrespective of political affiliations are coming together to protest anti-labour polices of the government," AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.

About 5,000 small unions have also decided to support the strike call, the union leaders said.

The government had last week appealed the trade unions to desist from going on strike with Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge saying they were ready to discuss any kind of labour-related issues.

Rejecting the appeal, Dasgupta said "We are not ready to consider such a ritualistic statement on the part of the government." He said the government had enough opportunity earlier to sit with the trade unions to discuss the issues.

The unions are demanding no contract out of work - permanent or perennial nature, amendment of Minimum Wages Act, assured pension for all and compulsory registration of trade union among others.

In view of the nationwide strike called by a number of trade unions, the Delhi government clamped the Essential Services Maintenance Act on all power companies in the city to ensure that there is no disruption in electricity supply in the national Capital.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed her ministers to ensure that no Govt employees take part in the bandh which she says is Left sponsored. She's warned of consequences if her orders are violated.

"Delhi government has clamped ESMA on all power companies including generation, distribution and other power companies in view of the proposed strike," a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office said.

As a result of the strike banks, telephone and transport services are likely to take a hit. A near complete paralysis is expected in Assam, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

YSR Congress Party leaders meet in Tirupati

Almost the entire leadership YSRCP, barring Y.S. Vijayamma and Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, was in Tirupati on Monday for a political awareness workshop organised for the gain of the party's rank and file from the Chandragiri constituency.

The climate of the thick ‘Talakona' forests where the leaders converged, provided the right ambience to the meet, as the temple city is currently passing through a rare hot and cold climate with deep variation in the day and the night temperatures.

Some of the senior YSR Congress Party leaders who participated in the meeting are: Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Y.V. Subba Reddy, Konathala Ramakrishna, S. Ramakrishna Reddy, Shobha Nagi Reddy, Vasireddi Padma, and B. Karunakar Reddy besides Lakshmi Parvathi, who has of late thrown her lot behind the party.

The meet was convened by Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, former TUDA chairman and a close aide of both YSR and YS Jaganmohan Reddy. Though he got up the meet ostensibly for a political awareness programme, it was obviously for a show of strength and to firm up his claim for the party ticket to Chandragiri to take on his formidable rival, Mines and Geology Minister, Galla Arunakumari.

Some of the topics that were billed for discussion at the summit were YSR's golden era in contrast to Chandrababu Naidu and Rosaiah, and CM Kiran Kumar Reddy's anti-people rule, YSRCP's mission under YS Jaganmohan Reddy, local body elections and so on.

The leaders lashed out at the Central and the State governments for unleashing a vicious and malicious campaign against Mr. Reddy.

Delhi government increases OBC allotment for higher education

                        

New Delhi:  The Delhi government today increased the reservation in higher education for OBC to 27 per cent from the present 21 per cent. With this increase, the total reservation in higher education institutions for Scheduled Castes , Scheduled Tribes  and OBCs will go up to 49.5 per cent.

The SCs have 15 per cent reservation while the STs have 7.5 per cent.

The decision to increase the OBC quota was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The reservation will come into result after a notification by the government.

2012 Oscar : 'The Artist' sweeps 84th Academy Awards

                                                                                          

OSCAR WINNERS

Best Film: Tom cruise presents Best Motion Picture Oscar to Thomas Langmann for 'The Artist'.

Best Actress: Colin Firth presents oscar for Actress in a leading role (female) Oscar to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady. Meryl said, "When I hear my name I see half of America of going aww, not her again! But whatever. I want to thank my husband, colleages, friends. This is such a great honour but friendships, love matter to me more." Merly Gets a standing ovation. Its Meryl's 3rd Oscar.

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin wins the Best Actor Oscar for The Artist. He thanks Michel, co-star, wife and cast of The Artist.

Natalie Portman on stage to present Actor in a leading role Oscar. She compliments each nominee individually by saying what makes their performance different.

Oscar pays tribute to the artists who passed away in the recent past. Likes of Jane Russsell, Ken Russell, Whitney Houston, Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Taylor

Short film Animated: Oscar goes to William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Best Director: Michael Douglas presents Oscar to Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist. He thanks academy, cast, dog, thanks the financers

Short Film : Bridesmaids cast on stage to present Oscar for Short Film (Live Action) . Oscar goes to Terry George and Oorlagh George for The Shore. Terry thanks daughter Oorlagh, the producer, dedicates award to the Irish people.

Original Screenplay: Oscar goes to Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris. Woody skips the Oscar. Jolie thanks Allen for accepting award on Academy's behalf

Adapted Screenplay: Angelina Jolie presents Oscar for Adapted Screenplay to Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash for The Descendants. Alexander thanks Clooney, fellow nominees, author of the novel, mother.

Best Original Song: Will Ferell and Zach Galifianakis present Best Original Song Oscar to Bret McKenzie from Man or Muppet

Best Original Score: Peneope Cruz and Owen Wilson present award for Best Original Score to Ludovic Bource for The Artist. He says" I want to pay tribute to fellow nominees, power of music, I want to thank academy, it's a special award. "

Best Actor in a supporting role: Melissa Leo presents the Oscar to Christopher Plummer for Beginners. He is 82 years old and wins his first Oscar. Asks his trophy: Best Visual Effects: EmmaStone and Ben Stiller on stage to present Best Visual Effects Oscar to Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann and Alex Henning for HUGO. They thank to Martin Scorsese, thanks artists all over the world, academy, producers, Paramount

Best Animated feature film: Chris Rock presents Best Animated feature film Oscar to Gore Verbinski for Rango. Gore thanks Johnny Depp, family and cast of Rango.

Best Documentary: Oscar goes to TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Rich Middlemas for Undefeated

Best Sound Mixing: Oscar goes to Tom Fleischman and John Midgley for Hugo. They thank Academy, Martin Scorsese, fellow nominees, crew of Hugo

Best Sound Editing: Oscar goes to Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty for Hugo. The duo thank Martin Scorsese

Best Film Editing: Bradley Cooper and Tina Fey present the Best Film Editing oscar to Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.

​Best Supporting Actress: Actor Christian Bale presents Best Supporting Actress Oscar to Octavia Spencer for 'The Help'. She gets a standing ovation. Octavia cries and thanks Academy, her family, HELP family. I share this award for everyone.

Best Foreign Language Film: Sandra Bullock on stage to present Best Foreign Language Film. Oscar goes to Iran, Asghar Farhadi receives it for "A Separation"

Best Makeup: Oscar goes to Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland for The Iron Lady. They thank Meryl Streep for keeping them employed for last 37 years.

Best Costume Design: Oscar for costume Design goes to Mark Bridges for The Artist

Art Direction: And the Oscar goes to Dante Ferretti (Production Design); Francesca Lo Schiavo  for Hugo. The husband wife thank Martin Scorsese and dedicate award to Italy.

YS Jagan MLCs seek recognition in council

3 MLC’s elected from the Local Authorities Constituency (LAC) and outstanding allegiance to the YSR Congress are set to petition the Legislative Council chairman to recognize them as a separate group in the Upper House.

The MLC’s – C. Narayana Reddy (Kadapa ), Meka Seshu Babu (West Godavari ) and Desai Tippa Reddy (Chittoor ) are planning to submit a letter to the Chairman on Monday February 27^th  requesting him to consider their plea.

Sources said these MLCs decided not to press for recognition as YSRCP members fearing disqualification.

“The Congress not keen on MLAs' disqualification”

Former  Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy on Sunday dared the ruling Congress to ensure the disqualification of the 16 MLA's, who had voted in support of the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP Party in the State Assembly.

The ruling Congress was not seriously pressing for acceptance of resignation by Speaker Nadendla Manohar fearing rout in the by-elections that would follow in that event of disqualification, he said after inaugurating the YSRC district party office here.

The Ongole MLA expressed confidence that the YSR Congress party would romp home in the by-election to the Kovur Assembly seat despite several ministers camping in the constituency.

He exhorted the party cadre to work for strengthening the party at the grassroots level.

Party district convenor N. Balaji said the party committees at the mandal level would be constituted by February 28th.

Three killed, two injured as building collapses in secunderabad monda market

Secunderabad,:  Three persons died and two others sustained injuries after a portion of a building collapsed in the busy Monda Market in Secunderabad, police said.

The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm 25^th February  when slabs of the three-storied building, which was being demolished for constructing a new structure, suddenly collapsed on some vendors on the road, they said.

"Bodies of 3 men were removed from the debris while two others who were trapped have been rescued," a senior police officer monitoring the rescue operation told PTI.

He said rescue efforts would continue as it is suspected that some more persons are feared trapped beneath the collapsed component

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan, who visited the area, said, "It's a clear case of negligence and police teams have been formed to nab the owners of the building, who are on the run."

Meanwhile, National Disaster Management Authority Vice Chairman and Sanathnagar MLA M Shashidhar Reddy, who inspected the relief and rescue operation, told reporters that if disaster management plan was in place, it could have seeded up the rescue work.

Australia beat India by 87 runs to qualify for finals in Tri series

Australia(Sydney cricket ground): Indian batting was at it's miserable worst as the visitors were bundled out on 165 runs by Australia in the 10th ODI of the ongoing CB Series, here on Sunday.

Chasing 253 for a win and points, the Indian openers in Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar left early. Second over from the hosts and Sehwag smacked the ball right back to the bowler, to return with 5 runs to his name. Tendulkar joined his partner in the seventh over when he was run out by David Warner. The master blaster had 14 runs with 2 boundaries, leaving the ground fuming as he found Brett Lee in his path while trying to complete the run, unsuccessfully.

Gautam Gambhir on the other end struck a few boundaries but looked tentative for most parts of his innings. It seemed to even rub-off on Virat Kohli who surrendered to stand-in skipper Shane Watson's bowling. A lazy flick fro Kohli (21) and Daniel Christian swallowed a rather simple catch at midwicket. Gambhir (23) followed in the next over, leaving his stumps shattered by an inside edge off McKay's bowling.

Watson rallied his bowlers well and did not ease the pressure on India even momentarily. The collapse turned into a cricketing holocaust as Suresh Raina (8) and Ravindra Jadeja (8) departed without having any impact on the proceedings.

It was then that the Indian batting showed some signs of life as Irfan Pathan and R Ashwin stitched together a 30-run stand for the 8th wicket with some entertaining shots beyond the boundary. Once Ashwin (26) fell to Xavier Doherty, it was all over in favour of Australia.

Earlier in the day, Australia posted an unconvincing 9 for 252 with David Warner scoring 68. David Hussey (54) and Matthew Wade (56) had useful contributions in the innings as well.

N.Prasanna Kumar Reddy, filed his nomination for Kovur Assembly

Accompanied by party leaders, Y.S.R Congress party candidate,  Prasanna Kumar Reddy, filed his nomination for Kovur Assembly by-election on Saturday.

YSR Congress leaders reiterated that their party would win the Kovur election by a vast margin regardless of the combined efforts being made by the ruling Congress and TD to defeat its candidate.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. YS Rajamohan Reddy and Mr. Prasanna Kumar asserted that the public mood was clearly in favour of their party and that the other parties would have to fight for the second position.

In this by-election, Mr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy faces a peculiar fight with his own maternal uncle, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, a vociferous critic in the run-up to the by-elections.

In 1993, when N. Srinivasulu Reddy passed away, and by-election was held in Kovur, Mr. Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy had given his support to his nephew Prasanna Kumar.

Ys Vivekananda meets Kiran, seeks Rajya Sabha seat

Former Minister Vivekananda Reddy called on CM N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and urged him to consider fielding him for the Rajya Sabha elections in April this year.

Mr. Vivekananda Reddy, who served as the Agriculture Minister for a brief while, quit after losing the by-elections from Pulivendula assembly constituency last year.

Subsequently, his term for the Legislative Council was not renewed. He was in Delhi earlier to press his case with Congress leaders for the Rajya Sabha ticket.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr. Vivekananda Reddy, who is late Y.S.R younger brother, said he hoped that he would be considered for the RS nomination.

Six Rajya Sabha members from the State, including four from the Congress, will be retiring in April.

They are: Dasari Narayana Rao, G. Sanjeeva Reddy, Rashid Alvi, K. Keshava Rao (all Congress), M. V. Mysoora Reddy (Telugu Desam Party) and Aziz Pasha (Communist Party of India).

The strength of Congress party in the Assembly is 171, including16 of the erstwhile Praja Rajyam. But, 16 rebel Congress members are facing disqualification bringing down the real strength of the ruling party to 155.

It can ensure victory of three candidates easily but will have to struggle to get the fourth seat.

The Telugu Desam Party on the other can easily bag two seats.

Race hots up

Party sources said the lobbying for Congress tickets has already started with names of erastwhile Praja Rajyam chief K. Chiranjeevi and Renuka Chowdary doing the rounds while Mr. Keshava Rao is making a determined attempt to seek re-nomination.

 Chiranjeevi is confident that the Congress leadership would fulfil its promise of giving him due position after merger of his party last year.

Ms. Renuka Chowdary, who lost the Khammam Lok Sabha seat in 2009, is using her connections in Delhi to get the nomination.

A vocal Telangana protagonist, Dr. Keshava Rao is trying for another term in the hope that the party could ill afford to disappoint the people of the region by ignoring him.

A section of Telangana Congress leaders are also pitching in his privilege.

Discounted tickets for Olympic Qualifiers final

Delhi: Hockey India  announced special discounted Entry Tickets for students from schools & colleges, players of various Hockey Academies and employees of State/ Central Government for Sunday 26th February 2012 at the ongoing 'Hero FIH Road to London' Olympic Qualifier for Men & Women at MDC National Stadium, New Delhi.

They can purchase these special tickets for Rs. 10/- each for Section 'A' & 'C' and Rs. 100/- each for section ‘B’ upon production of their valid Identity Cards issued by their Educational Institutions/ Academies/ Government Departments at Gate No. 5,  MDC National Stadium, New Delhi.

Final Match of the Olympic Qualifier (Men) will be played between India and France at 2000hrs on Sunday.

Preliminary key of VRO and VRA test released

Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy on Friday released the preliminary key of the Village Revenue Officer (VRO) and Village Revenue Assistant (VRA) recruitment test held on February 19th.

The key has been made available on website http://ccla.egg.gov.in and the Website of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, which conducted the written test http://www.jntu.ac.in.

The final key would be released on March 2 and the results would be released on March 12.

Speaking after releasing the preliminary key, the Minister stated that question numbers 32 and 86 of Code-A set in VRO test and question no. 51 of Code-A set in VRA test were invalidated after they were found to be wrong. One bonus mark to each of the three questions would be awarded to all candidates irrespective of whether they attempted the questions or not. The questions had different numbers in three other sets.

Candidates who took the test and others could complain, if they had any objections on the preliminary key and a five-member expert team would examine them before releasing the final key. Interested persons could sent their suggestions in writing to G.K. Viswanadh, Convener-VROART, JNTU-H, Hyderabad – 500 085, by 5 p.m. on February 29.

The results of the recruitment test would, however, be not released in Adilabad, Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal and Nellore districts, where by-polls were being held, due to the by Election code.

By polls to seven seats relief for Congress in Andhra

Andhra Pradesh: The announcement of the schedule for by-elections to seven assembly seats has come as a relief for A.P ruling Congress as it will now not be facing polls in 24 constituencies in one going as being demanded by the YSR Congress party.

With the assembly speaker yet to take a decision on the disqualification of 17 Congress rebels, the Election Commission decided to go ahead with the polls for 7 other seats which fell vacant last year due to resignations of six members. The seventh vacancy was caused by the death of an independent legislator.

By announcing the schedule for 7 seats, the Election Commission has ignored the demand of the YSR Congress to conduct coincidental polls for 24 seats.

Six of the seven seats going to polls on March 18th are in Telangana and as the sentiments for separate state are still strong, the Congress wanted to avoid facing simultaneous elections in other constituencies.

YSR Congress legislators, in a letter to the Election Commission on Feb 13^th, had urged it to hold polls for all 24 seats in one go. They alleged that the Congress was afraid of facing the electorate and hence was pressurizing the speaker to go slow on their disqualification.

The Congress had sought disqualification of the rebels after they violated the party whip and voted in favour of the no-confidence motion moved by opposition TDP in the assembly in December.

YSR Congress leader YS Jagan had challenged the Congress to face by-elections for all 24 seats. The rebels had also met the speaker, advocating him to disqualify them.

The ruling party leaders, however, denied that they were afraid of facing the electorate. They arrogated that it was for the speaker to decide on the disqualification of the rebels.

As per the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission last night, polling would be held for seven seats on March 18^th . The vacancies arose due to resignations of two legislators of Congress party, one of TDP, three rebels of TDP and the death of one independent MLA.

Two legislators each of Congress and TDP resigned to join TRS. Senior TDP leader N. Janardhan Reddy resigned over the demand for separate Telangana state. Another TDP rebel Prasanna Kumar Reddy quit his seat to join YSR Congress party.