The intensifying war of words between Congress and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy camp continues to grab headlines in the media. The rising political temperature has also triggered a media war with “Sakshi” carrying a lead story alleging match-fixing between Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu. On the other hand, “Eenadu” gave prominent coverage to the statements by State Handlooms Minister P Shankar Rao and TDP leaders, demanding that the details of Jagan’s illegal properties be made public.
The rich haul of Padma honours by eminent personalities from Andhra Pradesh provided a pleasant relief to the readers from a string of acrimonious political developments jostling for front page space. The release of 305 prisoners on the eve of Republic Day, continuing protests in Telangana region during “Racchabanda” programme, the Chief Minister’s announcement on national status for Polavaram project and the prospect of deportation of large number of AP students from United States following unearthing of a visa scam involving an American University were among the other major headlines across publications.
The local dailies lapped up the slanging political match that has touched a new low. After addressing a letter to the High Court, detailing illegal investments into companies owned by Jagan and his family members, Shankar Rao claimed that he was receiving threatening calls from unknown persons. While his fiery press conference was prominently covered by “Eenadu” and “Andhra Jyothy”, the rival media group “Sakshi” trained its guns on Chief Minister saying he was hand-in-glove with the opposition party in defaming YSR family.
It saw a political conspiracy in the allegations against Jagan’s companies and said both the Congress and TDP were getting jittery over the growing popularity of the former Kadapa MP.
Fresh doubts were expressed by Jagan camp over circumstances surrounding the September 2, 2009 helicopter crash that killed YSR. “Sakshi” played up Ambati Rambabu’s demand for re-opening CBI probe into the crash and examining Kiran in connection with the case.
According to a report in “Andhra Jyothy”, even in the midst of all the acrimony, the Congress high command was in touch with Jagan camp to sort out matters. It quoted Anakapally MP Sabbam Hari as having alleged that the Chief Minister was creating obstacles for these negotiations.
“Andhra Jyothy” also carried an investigative report on how the controversial industrialist and head of PVP Ventures P Varaprasad was making moves, with the help of Jagan, to bag Spectrum power project in East Godavari district.
A lead story in “Andhra Bhoomi” said the UPA government was veering round to the view that the Option VI recommended by the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee was the best bet in the given circumstances. It envisages keeping AP united while creating a statutorily empowered Regional Development Council for Telangana. Quoting official sources, the report said the Centre was planning to opt for three regional councils for the three regions and an announcement in this regard may be made by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during the next all-party meeting.
