Mohan Babu likely to join YSR Congress soon

                                                                     
A particular news item went almost unnoticed this week. It was the appearance of YS Jaganmohan Reddy at Mohan Babu's residence in Hyderabad. In fact, after Jagan called on Mohan Babu, whose son married the daughter of Jagan's father's uncle, it triggered a speculation that the veteran actor might join the YSR Congress Party sooner or later.

Though none can establish that Babu intends to join the Party and it is too early days to presume things. Jagan's aides have sought to delink the visit from politics.

The fact that Mohan Babu has not been closely associated with any political party for many years now doesn't not lend credence to the assumption that he may like to become a Jagan man in politics, say political observers.
But the fact remains that the 2014 elections will see a lot of star factor in the campaigning stage.

YSR schemes ignored: Jagan

                                                                                           
The YSR Congress president, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, said that his 17 MLAs had resigned only to teach a lesson to the Congress government, which neglected the welfare of farmers and labourers. Mr Jagan toured Siddavatam, Ontimitta and Nandalur mandals in Rajampet Assembly constituency limits as party of his byelection campaign on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, he alleged that Congress leaders only gave importance to safeguard their posts and criticised government for being inefficient. Mr Jagan alleged that the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, had failed to develop the state during his nine-year-old rule and added that the TD chief was levelling allegations against him, unable to digest the development schemes launched by his father Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
He alleged that welfare schemes introduced by YSR for farmers and labourers were not being implemented and 17 MLAs had resigned, unable to see the problems faced by the poor.
Mr Jagan said that there was an overwhelming response for his Odarpu Yatra and the byelection campaign, reflecting people’s affection towards YSR. He said that it was important what one did for people and not how one long one lived. Mr Jagan urged people to elect Mr A. Amarnath Reddy contesting from Rajampet Assembly seat.
Mr Amarnath Reddy, party district convenor K. Suresh Babu and others were present.
from DC

EC to explain delay in giving symbol to YSRC

                                                                                      
A Vacation Bench comprising Justice G. Chandraiah and Justice N. Ravi Shankar of the AP High Court on Thursday asked the EC to explain the delay in disposing of a representation by the YSR Congress to allot a common symbol (ceiling fan) to its candidate in the forthcoming bypolls. The Bench was dealing with a plea by Bajireddy Goverdhan, general secretary of the party. He told the court that his party made a representation to the EC on March 30, seeking allotment of ceiling fan symbol for its Tirupati candidate.
Clarifying on the request for a “ceiling fan” symbol for its Tirupati candidate, he pointed out that in the remaining 17 Assembly segments (other than Tirupati) and one Parliamentary constituency, they had no difficulty in choosing an election symbol as it had sitting MLAs and an MP contesting the elections there. “In case of Tirupati seat, the party can’t have preferential allotment as its candidate is not a sitting MLA,” Mr Goverdhan said. The case was posted to Wednesday.
Hearing on tech colleges put off
The Vacation Bench on Thursday decided to hear the petition of Telangana Private Educational Institutions Parents Association after the summer vacation. They had sought a direction to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) not to grant permission to the erring professional colleges for the academic year 2012-13. The Bench felt that a detailed hearing is essential in the case and posted it for hearing after summer vacation.
GHMC told to explain charges
Justice G. Chandraiah, vacation judge of the AP High Court on Thursday asked the GHMC to file a detailed counter affidavit on levying ‘rain water harvesting’ charges of 2 crore, in addition to impact fees of 6 crore and city level infrastructure impact fee of 61 lakh to construct a multiplex at Chikkadapally. The judge was dealing with a plea by Shantha Sriram Construction Pvt Ltd.
HC allows Tara withdraw plea
Justice N. Ravi Shankar, a vacation judge on Thursday permitted Tara Chowdhary, Telugu actor and accused in a prostitution case to withdraw her bail application. She had challenged the rejection of her bail by a lower court.
HC turns down Gali’s petition
The vacation court refused to stay an order passed by the principal sessions judge of the CBI Court in rejecting the petition of Gali Janardhan Reddy to post his bail plea before Naga Maruthi Sharma, second additional session judge of the CBI court. The plea of Janardhan Reddy was posted to May 9.
from DC

Jagan not to face temple ‘music’

The state government has no plan to take action against YSR Congress chief and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for flouting Tirumala temple rules. However, the state government and the Election Commission are pondering whether action could be taken against YSR Congress activists for creating a ruckus and indulging in political slogan shouting which is banned at the hill shrine.
Tirumala falls in Tirupati Assembly constituency where bypoll is being held and election code is in force. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, a Christian, kicked off a controversy by having darshan of Lord Venkateswara without signing the customary declaration for non-Hindus stating he or she “believes in Lord Venkateswara”. The practice of signing the declaration is in vogue since 1933.
“We have no plan to take action (against Y.S.. Jagan Mohan Reddy), as it is not legally binding to sign such a declaration,” said C. Ramachandraiah, minister for endowments. “However, the government is pondering whether cases could be booked against YSR Congress activists who created a ruckus and scenes there as all kinds of political activities are banned at the hill shrine,” the minister said. “We are concerned about disturbance of peace and tranquillity in the temple. The authorities will look into the issue,” he said. The endowment minister said major temples like Sabarimala, Guruvayyur and and Puri Jagannath Swamy have customs that are strictly followed by devotees.
from dc

Jagan richest MP in the country: Somireddy

                                                                                           

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) district president and former Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy has said that YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has come to be acknowledged as the richest parliamentarian which is in contrast to his claim of belonging to pedala kulam (poor people's caste).

‘Made crores of rupees'

“Nobody believes Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy when he says he belongs to ‘pedala kulam'. Everybody knows that he has made crores of rupees worth property during his father Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy's time,” says Mr. Chandramohan Reddy.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Chandramohan Reddy deplored Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy making seemingly innocent and smart statements that his religion was that of humanity while on the other hand misusing his religion for electoral and political gains.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy should rightly be called the ‘richest poor man' if his wealth accumulation was taken into account in the six years of his father's rule, the TDP leader said.

Mr. Chandramohan Reddy also took objection to the manner in which YSRCP president refused to oblige the authorities of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) regarding the tradition and custom of non-Hindus signing in the register before entering the inner premises of Lord Venkateswara Temple. Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy's prestige prevailed over established customs and the chants of ‘Jagan' from his supporters replaced the holy chant of “Govinda” in the sacred premises, which was deeply disturbing, he added.

from hindu

Vote for welfare of ryots, poor, says Jagan

                                                                         

YSR Congress Party president and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy called upon the people on Thursday to vote for his party for the betterment of farmers, handloom weavers and poorer sections.

Launching his election campaign in Kadapa district at Takkoli in Rajampet constituency, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said “every vote should be an eye-opener for the ruling party.” YSRCP would safeguard the interests of farmers, handloom weavers and poorer sections if his party gained power. He appealed to the people to elect former MLA and YSRCP candidate Akepati Amarnath Reddy, “who resigned from the Assembly for the ‘cause' of farmers.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy promised construction of a bridge from Khader bungalow to Machupalle and a protection wall from Machupalle to Lingampalle, on coming to power.

He interacted with turmeric farmers at Bakarapet and promised to fight with the government for ensuring remunerative prices for their crops. Turmeric fetched Rs. 16,000 per quintal during his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's rule, but the price dropped to Rs. 2,500, and the government was not bothered about coming to their rescue, Mr. Reddy said.

The government was indifferent to the woes of handloom weavers although he staged hunger strike.

The by-elections would pave the way for a gold era, he said at Vontimitta.

from hindu

Sloganeering by Jagan followers: CEO seeks report

                                                                                           

Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal has asked Chittoor Collector to submit a report on the allegation that YSR Congress party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's followers raised “Jai Jagan” slogans inside the Tirumala shrine.

Mr. Bhanwarlal told media persons that there was nothing wrong in political leaders in visiting temple but slogan shouting by their followers was not proper and he would seek a report on it.

Earlier, Telugu Desam party petitioned the CEO alleging that Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy and has followers have violated the model code of conduct by raising slogans of “Jai Jagan” and “YSR Congress zindabad” at the mahadwaram of the Tirumala temple.

There is no law to insist that non-Hindus visiting Tirumala temple to sign a faith declaration form but it is a convention in the temple, said Endowments Minister C. Ramachandraiah here on Thursday.

Asked to respond on the controversy over refusal of YSR Congress Party president and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to sign on the declaration form at the Tirumala temple on Wednesday, he said it would have been desirable if that convention was followed.

Several temples be it Guruvayur temple, Puri or Sabrimala, have their conventions and which were adhered to by the devotees, he said.

‘Peace disturbed'

“I will leave it to the wisdom of individuals whether they should respect the age-old conventions or not. But I feel those with prudent mind and wisdom should respect conventions followed in temple,” he said. He however said was concerned that the incident disturbed the tranquility of the temple. No responsible leader would disturb peace in a temple. He also said there was no need to take any action if an individual did not give a faith declaration.

from hindu

AP: Kiran is a Jagan covert, says Ravindra Reddy

                                                                                     
HYDERABAD/KADAPA: In a fresh broadside against Kiran Kumar Reddy, loose cannon minister D L Ravindra Reddy on Thursday called the chief minister a covert operative of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Though Ravindra Reddy’s outburst was a reaction to Kamalapuram MLA Veera Shiva Reddy and former MLA Varadarajul Reddy’s attack on him on Wednesday, he turned his fusillade upon Kiran Kumar.

Stating that ‘someone’ was egging on his detractors, Ravindra Reddy told reporters in Khajipet in Kadapa district, “That person is occupying the highest position, but has been very considerate to Jagan Mohan Reddy. Does he have the guts to question Jagan as to how he amassed wealth?”

Ravindra Reddy added, “When he (Kiran) was the speaker, he went to Delhi 48 times clandestinely to lobby the party bosses. And he accuses me of taking bribes to increase the number of seats in medical colleges.”

The health minister said he was not consulted on the candidates to fight the three forthcoming Assembly byelections in Kadapa district.

“The chief minister had tickets allotted to his candidates. Therefore, the responsibility of ensuing their victory rests on him,” he said.

Ravindra Reddy’s adherence to the Kiran Kumar government has come unhinged since his portfolios were trimmed earlier this year.

Although initial signals indicated growing proximity to Jagan Mohan Reddy -- whom he fought and lost to in the Kadapa byelection -- sources say it is unlikely he will hitch his wagon to the son of his friend-turned-foe Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Ravindra Reddy has previously claimed to be “vexed with debased politics” and did some loud thinking about taking political sanyas.

Sources, however, say that he would be encouraged to stay in the party if given importance. Should he switch loyalties, it might be to Chandrababu Naidu rather than Jagan, sources say.

When K Rosaiah resigned as chief minister in 2010, Ravindra Reddy fancied himself for the post and stated on record, “I was elected to the Assembly six times. Why not me?”

When Kiran Kumar Reddy won the post, he kept quiet and was content with a place in the ministry and the medical and health portfolio. Though Kiran Reddy did give him an important portfolio, he used to take all crucial decisions leaving Ravidnra Reddy seething.

Things came to a boil when Ravindra Reddy wanted principal secretary (health) P V Ramesh transferred, and the chief minister turned a deaf ear. Further differences cropped up over entrusting the 108 service to GVK. The last straw proved to be the clipping of Ravindra’s portfolio in the cabinet expansion in February.

The chief minister separated medical education and entrusted it to Kondru Murali Mohan while leaving Ravindra Reddy with only the health Portfolio.

“The way medical education was removed hurt me,” Ravindra Redddy said then.

“I am not very keen on positions. I am not in the habit of taking money in suitcases to Chennai and Delhi to secure positions,’’ he said.

from ibn live