The ongoing shadow-boxing by the two warring factions of Congress continues to engage the attention of political observers and the media. The Assembly floor test is the latest weapon being used by the rival groups to throw challenges at each other. “Andhra Bhoomi” ran a front page story discussing the strategies of Congress and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy camp and their motives behind claims and counter-claims.
“Andhra Jyothy” quoted TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu as having told his senior party colleagues that there was no need for his party to fall into the trap being laid by Jagan on the issue of moving a no-confidence motion. He reasoned that the people were already getting fed up with internal squabbles in Congress and resenting the lackluster performance of the government.
The report of violence and protests during Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s first “Rachchabanda” programme in Telangana was displayed prominently by “Eenadu” and “Andhra Bhoomi”. Despite the disruption, Kiran asserted that the mass contact programme will not be halted at any cost and claimed that he was deputed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to complete the unfinished agenda of development.
In its lead story, “Vaartha” highlighted the political controversy triggered by Chief Minister’s statement that he was supposed to have accompanied YSR for “Rachchabanda” programme on the fateful day on September 2, 2009 but had cancelled the trip just 15 minutes before the departure. This has raised several uncomfortable questions, the report said. The Chief Minister’s claim that YSR wanted to prevent Nagam from becoming the chairman of Public Accounts Committee has also triggered controversy, the report pointed out.
In the midst of uncertainty over Telangana issue, “Andhra Jyothy” presented a new angle in its front page quoting to “Tehelka” magazine, saying the Centre was contemplating a new option of a time-bound Telangana Regional Council which will be implemented on a experimental basis for 15 months. If the results are not satisfactory, then bifurcation option will be explored, the report said.
Appointing a Telangana leader as deputy chief minister, special statutory power to regional council, nominating a Telangana leader as its chairman and giving key portfolios to Telangana representatives are among the proposals under study, it said.
“Eenadu” and “Sakshi” prominently carried the statement of AICC leader Shakeel Ahmad that the Congress was not averse to smaller states including Telangana and that the party would abide by the decision of the central government in this regard.
“Sakshi” continued its tirade against what it called the axis of evil comprising Kiran, Chandrababu Naidu and media baron Ch Ramoji Rao. Its banner story, with a screaming headline, highlighted how a systematic attempt is being made to malign YSR and his family. The canards were being spread by the same Congress leaders who had pledged their loyalty to YSR in the past and benefited because of his largesse.
The prime suspect in Maddelacheruvu Suri’s murder Bhanu Kiran has sent feelers that he is willing to surrender before the police, an “Andhra Jyothy” report said while “Eenadu” quoted police sources to say that the investigators were probing Suri’s links with Telugu film industry.
