Home Minister P.Chidambaram is India’s new finance minister, while his cabinet colleague Sushilkumar Shinde will take charge of the home ministry, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique issued Tuesday said.

“The president, as advised by the prime minister, has directed that the portfolios of the following ministers will be re-allocated as follows P. Chidambaram Finance, Sushilkumar Shinde Home Affairs,” the statement said.

“Further, as advised by the prime minister, the president has also directed that M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Corporate Affairs, will be assigned additional charge of the ministry of power,” the statement added.

Shinde was holding the power portfolio.

The Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy who has concluded his 3-day visit to Srikakulam district as part of his ongoing Indiramma Baata programme on Sunday, has made efforts to project himself as an able administrator and a ruler concerned with the problems of farmers, women, students and other key sections of the society.

The Chief Minister who has assailed the YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in the recent by-elections, chose to maintain silence on the rebel MP. He has however taken on the TDP Chief Chandra Babu Naidu in most of his public meetings and media conferences. He has compared Naidu to the proverbial crane which pretends to be in penance standing on single leg in a lake and swallows the curious fish that come near. He said BCs would meet the same fate as the innocent fish. This anecdote was highlighted by the media, to the discomfiture of the TDP supremo.

There is curious discussion among the Congress circles on why Kiran chose to ignore Jagan, in the context of the senior party leader V Hanumantha Rao calling him a covert of the YSR scion.Was it the decision of the Congress high command not to focus on Jagan any longer?

This is the question being widely debated. Though there was no official indication from the party leadership to leave Jagan alone, the attitude of the CM shows that there was change in the strategy of the party leadership, which has earlier given instructions to the state leaders to make a frontal attack on Jagan during the by-elections.

Is it because the party has realized that attacking Jagan proved to be counter productive and caused the rout of the party in the recent by-elections? Or, is it because there was some understanding between the Congress and the Jagan? Or, is there some understanding between Kiran and Jagan as alleged by Hanumantha Rao? These questions are being discussed with considerable curiosity by the state leaders. Sensing the mood of the Congress high command, most Congress leaders also had stopped attacking Jagan.

Whatever the instructions the Chief Minister might have received, he has concentrated more about enlightening the people about various welfare schemes available to them and impressing that he was working with right earnestness. He has showered many benefits on the people of Srikakulam. Kiran who is credited with hitting 14 sixes in a first class cricket match has tried to impress young students with his cricketing prowess. He has mixed with inmates of social welfare hostels and played cricket with them in the morning, before starting his busy official schedule.

Congress MP K. Chiranjeevi and Telugu Desam party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu blamed the negligence by the railways for Monday’s train disaster at Nellore.Both the leaders visited Nellore railway station and inspected the compartment, which was gutted in the fire killing 35 people.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy too appeared unhappy with the railways and pointed out that this is second such incident in the state in less than three months.

“Railways have to think seriously (about passenger safety) and do safety audit of all trains,” he told reporters after going around the charred compartment.”People in large numbers travel by trains. They have confidence in railways,” the chief minister said while calling for a comprehensive probe by the railways.

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi said railways were not paying attention to passengers’ safety. He stressed the need for speeding up the modernisation of railways.”Indian railways is the largest organization in the world but we still follow the old safety and security systems introduced during the British time,” said the Rajya Sabha member.

Former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that railways had no seriousness towards the passenger safety. “The negligence by the centre and railways is to be blamed for this tragedy. At least now they should wake up from deep slumber,” he said.The TDP chief said two lakh posts in railways were vacant and many of them relate to safety. He criticized the railways for not sending forensic experts to collect the evidence despite the doubts that the tragedy could be a result of sabotage.

CBI court has on Monday rejected the bail petition of industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad who was arrested in connection with the disproportionate assets case against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. CBI has opposed his bail plea stating that it would not be proper to give him bail now, as the investigation into the Vanpic case was at a crucial stage.

It may be recalled that Nimmagadda, known as Matrix Prasad was arrested in May.

Prasad’s counsel has prayed that he may be granted bail as he was cooperating with the investigation. On hearing both sides, Judge of the special court has concurred with the argument of the CBI and rejected the bail plea.

Jails are meant for hardcore criminals and murderers. However with the emergence of corruption and political power brokers, highly notorious Chanchal Guda jail seems to be turning out to be a powerful ‘Power Center’ . Chanchal Guda jail turned to be a virtual fortress with VIP and VVIPs who with their deeds shot to fame becoming its inhabitants.They included till recently Ramalinga Raju of Satyam Computers and now Matrix Labs Nimmagadda Prasad. The jail is currently decorated by former minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Kadapa MP YS.Jagan Mohan Reddy and all powerful Bellari MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy. They are waiting to accord grand welcome to some more of their colleagues who are waiting in queue.

Chanchalguda Jail also suits powerful political brokers at center and state to get into secret pacts and deals escaping the media limelight whose journalists always spy on them when out of jail. None of the pacts and deals can be caught on investigative spy cams of journalists and will not raise suspicion or attract the attention of general public.People should not be unduly surprised if the aftermath of 2014 general elections throw stunning political alliances or pacts.Politicians and celebrities who understand the importance of powerful people present at Chanchal Guda jail are getting in their good books visiting them frequently. That was the reason why even President aspirants overtly and covertly sought the support of some people in Jail.

When ever people of Telangana expect some positive developments and path breaking announcements on formation of the state from the Center, some or the other developments across the country stalls any possible positive developments. Telangana politicians and people expected some sort of announcement after the completion of President elections. but however Maratha strong man Sharad Pawar gave ‘Power’full stroke to UPA led Congress government at Center. Congress High Command got completely engrossed in appeasing Pawar and later got convenient excuse to send message to its representatives of Telangana that it was busy sorting out issues with NCP at State and Center. Once that problem was solved Assam started exploding with insurgents using violence to drive away locals.

Already Congress at Center is delaying the formation of Telangana, citing Mulayam,Mamata and other allies who are opposed to the division as it will bring in more such demands in states in which they are the main players. Now it seems even developments in the Country are not in favor of Telangana people and Center turning cunning taking telangana people for a ride. Political bosses at center feel that stage managing incidents across various parts of the country, people an be taken for a ride. However if people know its true colors of Congress at Center then they will teach a fitting lesson in the next elections. They should understand that they are playing with T-fire and making some of its MPs like Madhu Yashki utter some violent pro telangana statements will not save it from defeat.