If the speculations going on in a section of media circles are to be believed, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is most likely to expand his cabinet on February 10.According to these reports, KCR would be busy with various activities till the second week of February. As of now, he would be engaged with Maha Rudra Sahita Sahasra Chandi Yagam till January 25.

The last phase of panchayat elections would be completed by January 30. He would take break for a few days before commencing the exercise on the cabinet expansion.It is learnt there are no auspicious days or muhurtams in February till 10th.And February 10th happens to be the most auspicious day: It is Sri Panchami, which is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and any activity that is taken on that day will yield very good results. Hence, KCR has chosen the muhurtham, party sources said.

In any case, it is not going to be a major expansion. At the most, KCR will induct only six to eight ministers in the first phase.He will take up another round of cabinet expansion after the Lok Sabha elections to be held in April/May.He is also expected to decide on the candidates to be appointed as Deputy Speaker, Chief Whips in Legislative Assembly and Councils and two-three whips in both the Houses.

Six Parliamenary Secretaries are also likely to be appointed in the second week of February.It is not exactly known who is there in the mind of KCR for being inducted into the cabinet, but there are too many aspirants.

Sources said KTR will call the shots in the selection of MLAs for the cabinet berths.

Maverick evangelist and self-styled president of Praja Shanti Party K A Paul has become a rage in social media circles not because he is a big celebrity, but because of his funny statements and tall claims.

His claim that he was responsible for the victory of Donald Trump as the President of United States of America and many such high-level statements have fetched him huge fans in the social media. People go through his statements just for enjoyment and fun.

But, Paul appears to be serious in making his statements. On Tuesday, Paul came out with yet another sensational statement, saying he is facing threat to his life from Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

He lodged a complaint with Hyderabad city police commissioner Anjani Kumar stating that Naidu and Jagan were hatching a conspiracy to kill him, because he was going to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and thereby, he was scuttling their chances to ascend the throne.

“Naidu and Jagan are intentionally trying to reopen cases filed against me in Ongole. I have a threat to my life from these two leaders in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, I filed a complaint in Hyderabad and asked for adequate police protection. I will soon meet Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in this regard,” he said.

Paul also filed a complaint against a few YouTube channels, websites and individuals for spreading fake news and comedy clips of him on social media platforms. He said he had asked the police commissioner to take severe action against them.

Interestingly, Paul also gave a bumper offer to prominent Kapu leader and former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna who had quit the YSR Congress party and is all set to join the TDP shortly.

“Why do you join the TDP, which was responsible for the killing of your father Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga? If you join my Praja Shanti Party, I will give you the party ticket and help you win the MLA seat. I will make you minister once I become the chief minister. And if it does not happen, I will give you Rs 100 crore,” Paul said.

Continuing its winning streak after the Assembly elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) swept the first phase of Panchayat polls in the state. The first phase recorded 87.56% polling in which the TRS’ supported candidates bagged 2446 seats while the Congress supporters was restricted to 829 seats, TDP supporters won 59 seats while the CPI and CPM won 17 and 29 respectively. Meanwhile, independents won 671 seats.

Meanwhile, election in 769 panchayats was declared unanimous and the polling for the second and third phase is scheduled for January 25th and January 30th, respectively. Following the announcement of results, elected public representatives including sarpanches and warm members elected the deputy sarpanches.

Even as polling was underway, Telangana Election Watch raised an issue about how there was a compulsion for several candidates to give in into the ruling party candidate and give up their nomination, while electing the ruling party candidate unanimously.

“The post is being auctioned for a price. Several village-level committees are exerting pressure on other candidates for unanimity,” the organisation stated. The State Government’s announcement of providing Rs. 10 lakh for panchayats where a candidate will be chosen unanimously has been misused, Telangana Election Watch reported.

Politics in Andhra Pradesh are turning hot each day with deflections and strange speculations on alliances. While there were hints and rumors about secret meetings on forming alliances, all the parties are expressing their confidence in moving ahead without a need for the alliance.

YSRC chief Jagan meeting KTR brought numerous possibilities on impacting the AP state politics, though TRS may not want its role involved directly. On the other side, there was a good number of rumors that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu is trying to woo Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan back to supporting TDP and so are the attempts of YSRC to shake hands with Janasenaani.

Responding on these speculations, Pawan Kalyan said that two prime political parties sending vibes to join hands with Janasena itself is a victory for Janasena. Speaking to Chittoor Janasena leaders, Pawan Kalyan ruled out forming an alliance with any of these two political parties, as he affirmed that Janasena does not need support from either TDP or YSRC, even if they need Janasena’s support.

Pawan Kalyan also recalled that TDP managed to win the 2014 elections only when he supported it back then. Also bringing the Prajarajyam Party’s functional and organizational failure into the discussion, Pawan Kalyan said that everyone left the party right after it lost in elections, and that diluted the goal and left the party aimless.

The Telugu Desam Party, which is struggling to sustain its existence in Kadapa district which is dominated by YSR Congress party, received a rude jolt on Tuesday with the virtual revolt of its MLA from Rajampet Meda Mallikarjuna Reddy against the party leadership.

Following reports that Meda, who is also government whip in the state assembly, has been contemplating joining the YSR Congress party, TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu sacked him from the party after meeting a large number of TDP leaders and workers from Rajampet at his Vundavalli camp office.

Within a couple of hours, Meda sought an appointment with YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and is all set to join the party.His brother Ragurami Reddy is all set to get the party ticket for the next elections from Rajampet.For quite some time, Meda has been running feud with district TDP president Srinivas Reddy and minister Adinarayan Reddy who defected from YSRC into the TDP.

Apparently, the local TDP leaders are of the view that Meda had been acting as a covert for YSRC, ever since he was denied the cabinet berth while a defector like Adinarayana Reddy could become a minister.
The internal war reached a new high when Meda announced that his brother would contest as YSRC candidate from Rajampet.

He has not been attending the TDP meetings for quite some and has not been accessible even to Naidu over phone.On Tuesday, Naidu sent a message to Meda to see him and settle the issue, but the MLA did not turn up. That was the last straw and Naidu lost no time in suspending Meda, who is now free to join the YSRC.

Nizamabad Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP K. Kavitha has emerged as one of the top 25 best parliamentarians for the term 2014-19 in India by Fame India Magazine. The “Shresth Saansad Award” will be presented on January 31st in New Delhi.

Kavitha has been chosen for her outstanding work as a Parliamentarian under the “Adarsh (ideal) category” by the magazine. Among the 25 Parliamentarians chosen, she is the only female Parliamentarian and the second one from South India apart from Congress’ floor Leader in Lok Sabha who has been chosen for the Award in Utkrusht (Excellence) category.

The Magazine took up a nation-wide survey along with the information available with the Parliament based on 10 parameters on performance and their work in constituencies. Congratulating his sister on the Award, TRS working president tweeted: “Congratulations Pap. Proud of You.” Indeed, a proud moment for the people of Telangana to have an “Adarsh Parliamentarian.”