Amid escalating tensions at India-Pakistan border, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-dubbed Visakhapatnam visit was full of political rhetoric directed towards AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the leaders of Mahaghatbandhan formed against the BJP, ahead of the upcoming General elections.

Not mincing words, Prime Minister Modi said that “this Chief Minister (Chandrababu) wants Modi out because he cannot stand Modi’s strong retaliation to our enemies globally and only Modi can do it – he knows it very well that we are giving a new direction to India,” he added. Stating that Mahaghatbandhan is misleading people across the country, he said that this alliance of Opposition parties is fighting a strong government “which puts the nation first. Because of this, our enemy is now getting scared and bowing down to India.”

Raking up the India-Pakistan tensions, Modi said: “When whole world is asking Pakistan to answer, some of them in India are asking questions which are weakening the morale of our armed forces. “Because of these, some of these people are being praised in Pakistan Parliament, their names are being hailed in Pakistan…I urge you to question these people.”

Putting a direct question to the leaders of Mahaghatbandhan, he said that “in Opposing Modi, why are they betraying the people of this country and talking in support of Pakistan? Is your politics against Modi or against India? You are doing more damage to our country by going against it,” adding that when there is a strong government at the Centre, every person will be happy.

Bringing the context of the state, he said: “Visakhapatnam is a place which is crucial place for lakhs of youth from state and across the country. It is our duty to make the dreams of these youth come true. I have come to Visakhapatnam with good news. We have taken a decision to create a South Coastal Railways, headquartered here in Visakhapatnam and this is the sweet news that I wanted to give,” he said, elaborating on the announcement made by the Centre recently.

“This is our promise which has been fulfilled according to the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. This will increase opportunities, revenue and transportation to Andhra Pradesh and it reflects our commitment to Andhra Pradesh. This also exposes those people who are corrupt and have been cheating the people of AP with their constant lies. They are also the same people who are encouraging their own family members, rather than giving a bright future to the daughters and sons of Andhra Pradesh.

Whether it is taking Visakhapatnam airport to international standards or 6-lane national highways or Petroleum Varsity or multi-modal logistics hub or petroleum refinery, “we will strive to make all these projects come true. And, mind you, they are worth crores. We have made these decisions because we are honest while working, we do not get scared that any files against us will open or whether our legacy would be damaged like those who are corrupt and it keeps haunting them,” the Prime Minister explained.

“The Chief Minister is an expert in U-turn and it has become a habit. He blames Modi because he doesn’t work. What is he going to do for Andhra Pradesh, what will he do for India? Ask him about what he will do, rather than focussing on getting me ousted as the Prime Minister. The TDP Chief, here, is hell-bent on getting Modi ousted because he has provided opportunities to poor, middle-class and all those who deserve them. And, Modi has also thrown out middlemen, corrupt people and all those fraudsters who cheat people.

Elaborating on the Central schemes, he said: “PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is benefitting small and marginal farmers across the country. Of these, there are several farmers from Andhra Pradesh who will benefit from this scheme. This is for their input costs. Please remember that this is just the beginning of a new India,” he reminded, people gathered at the public meeting.

“We are also working on Sagarmala project which includes Andhra Pradesh. We are developing fisheries sector and related coast corridor infrastructure, ports, harbours and fish landing centres,” he added. The Prime Minister also explained about the BJP’s efforts in reducing tax on taxpayers, GST rate slashed for houses under-construction and other measures taken by the government, reflecting confidence that BJP will come back to power in 2019 at the Centre.

YSRCP chief YS Jagan has decided to follow in the footsteps of TRS chief and Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao in announcing the candidates for all Assembly seats at one go.

Jagan is learnt to have finalised the list of 175 candidates and is waiting for the release of Assembly election notification by the Election Commission of India.

YSRCP party sources said Jagan has decided to declare candidates for all the 175 seats a day after EC issues Assembly polls notification.

This would mean that the muhurat of YSRCP candidates announcement will depend on the date on which EC will issue poll notification.

Though the list is ready with Jagan, it is learnt that he wants to release within 24 hours after EC notification and not prior to that.

Soon after announcement of list, Jagan has deciced to embark on a ‘bus yatra’ for campaigning covering all the 175 seats.

Jagan is learnt to be fully confident of YSRCP coming to power and he becoming CM of AP this time believing that a huge ‘anti-TDP wave’ is sweeping across AP.

Last time, Jagan lost power just with a margin of 2 per cent votes to TDP but this time all surveys predict a comfortable victory for YSRCP.

Right after Kareena Kapoor Khan made her Bollywood debut in JP Dutta’s Refugee with Abhishek Bachchan, the actress had appeared on Rendezvous With Simi Garewal.

In the interview, Kareena made a number of admissions and shared several anecdotes about her life, her debut films and more.

However, during the interview Simi also asked her who she would want to go on a date with? Guess what Kareena Kapoor’s answer was – that’s right! It was Rahul Gandhi.

The actress expressed that she is really intrigued by him and wants to get to know him better.

The actress also emphasised that bother and Rahul are from illustrious families, one from a political background while the other from a cinematic background.

“Shall I say this, I don’t know if I should. But I don’t mind it’s controversial. Rahul Gandhi. I’d like to know him. I have been flipping though his pictures in a magazine and wondering what would it be like to have a conversation with him. I come from a family with a lineage of films and he comes from a family with lineage of politics. So, may be we’d make an interesting conversation,” Kareena Kapoor Khan had said.

Though there is a general impression that the Bharatiya Janata Party has improved its position in the coming parliament elections in the wake of the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi is still optimistic about the formation of a federal front government at the Centre.

TRS spokesperson Abid Rasool Khan told a news agency that neither the BJP or nor Congress-led coalition would be able to form government at the Centre after the elections.

“It is going to be a non-Congress, non-BJP government that would be formed after the Lok Sabha elections and TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao would play a very important role at the Centre,” he said.

He exuded confidence that the TRS would win 16 out of 17 MP seats in Telangana.

Khan denied suggestions that KCR’s push towards forging a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties was losing steam.

“Things will change as the election results come out, or in the run up to the elections”, he claimed.

He said the TRS was open to talk to any party which is “secular” in nature and is not aligned with BJP and Congress.

Several regional parties fit in “that bracket”, Khan said listing YSRCP, BJD, TMC, SP and BSP in this regard. “We are ready to talk to all of them”.

Khan reminded that even Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was also talking about moving out of the Congress grip in Bihar.

“If that happens, we are ready to talk to him also”, he said.

“Anybody who is not aligned with the Congress or the BJP, we will talk to them. When KCR is trying to build a coalition without his personal agenda, I think lot of parties will respond to him and political scenario will change in the country in the coming days,” Khan added.

YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has learnt tricks of the political trade over the years.

He has realized that he needs to be more practical in his approach towards politics, rather than going by mere emotions.

It is an open secret that the coming elections are going to be the costliest, as the ruling Telugu Desam Party headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is going all out to retain power by pumping in big money.

Jagan has already seen the impact of money power of Naidu in the by-elections to Nandyal assembly seat.

He also witnessed how the Telangana Rashtra Samithi won the recent assembly elections in Telangana by pumping in huge money.

Naturally, the ruling parties are in an advantageous position in terms of spending money, as they amass huge wealth during their tenure.

Jagan has also realized that his party has to spend huge money in the elections, instead of believing that he would get benefitted only from anti-incumbency factor and the promises he is making in the name of Navaratnas.

So, the YSRC president is also taking into consideration the financial strength of the candidates,

Though popularity of the candidates and their loyalty to the party are also very important, there is no point in giving them tickets if they cannot match the financial power of the rival candidates.

“Strong financial position of the candidates, coupled with anger in the people towards the TDP government, will help the YSRC achieve victory. Jagan is looking at both these factors,” a party leader said.

That is precisely why Jagan is denying tickets to many leaders like Gouru Charitha Reddy and Alla Ramakrishna Reddy.

Though their long association with the party cannot be ignored, Jagan has realized that they are financial weak to take on the TDP in their constituencies.

And those who are capable of spending big money, not only for themselves but also for other candidates are getting preference.

Former MP and present TDP MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy falls into this category. It is learnt Magunta is prepared to spend Rs 100 crore in the elections not only for himself, but also for other YSRC candidates.

In any case, Jagan will not forget the loyalty factor. He has been assuring the loyalists that he would reward them with other positions like MLCs and corporation chairpersons and even Rajya Sabha tickets, if they continue to sail with the party.