YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy will be performing housewarming ceremony for his sprawling house-cum-office at Tadepalli in Amaravati on February 14.

Jagan is inviting several guests for the function, including YSRCP leaders and workers from all over the state for the office opening function. Jagan will be supervising the party activities from Tadepalli hereafter.

The prominent among the invitees is Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, thanks to his latest affinity between YSRC and the TRS.

Since Jagan has chosen February 14 as the muhurtam, it is expected to strengthen the bond between the two, the day being a Valentine’s Day.

According to the top YSRCP leaders, Jagan called up KCR a couple of days ago and invited him for the inauguration of the party office-cum-residential building.

However, KCR has not yet confirmed his visit. Though he assured Jagan that he would be coming to Amaravati one day and hold talks with the latter on the federal front issue, he is said to be of the view that attending the office inauguration function might create troubles for Jagan.

However, he told Jagan that he would take a decision on the same shortly, after discussing with his party colleagues.

With Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and his son, Hitesh Chenchuram joining the YSR Congress, the election battle in Andhra Pradesh has gotten interesting. With Purandeswari remaining in the Bharatiya Janata Party in a key post, her husband and son joining the YSRCP, the 2019 assembly elections in the state have made it a battle between the two Nandamuri sisters and NTR’s sons-in-law.

While Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and Purandeswari have always stood against TDP Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, their political fight has gone to the next level with them joining political rivals of the TDP. It is a well-known fact that the BJP, YSR Congress and the TRS from Telangana are trying to fight Chandrababu Naidu and end his political career, his own family members being part of this battle has caused many disdain and astonishment.

As the family battle gets louder and clearer with this, it looks like both sides are doing their best to put each other down. Daggubati Venkateswara Rao’s entry into YSR Congress serves both Jagan and Purandeswari’s husband politically well as their common enemy is TDP Chief Chandrababu. Additionally, Venkateswara Rao joining YSRCP also has given Jagan enough ammunition to make exploit the situation and use the family battle for his benefit.

While Chandrababu Naidu has openly criticised Venkateswara Rao and his son’s entry into YSRCP and said it is a deceptive move to the TDP to go against the party and join hands with the one who is seeking the yellow party’s downfall, Purandeswari has responded to it saying it is her family’s personal matter and choice as her husband was humiliated when he wanted to join TDP back. Looks like a lot of fireworks are in store for voters!

Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and his son Daggubati Hitesh Chenchuram’s meeting with YS Jagan and reports of their entry into YCP is being opposed by YCP leaders.

YCP’s Parchur leaders have all recently gathered against Daggubatis entry into the party. Mandal conveners of Parchur and other leaders, party workers of the constituency have met at a private function hall and passed a resolution against Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and Hitesh.

Parchur’s YCP leaders are planning to meet YS Jagan very soon and raise their voice against Daggubatis. YSRCP leaders in Prakasam district are opposing them alleging Daggubatis of having ‘self-centered’ nature.

They want Jagan to deny ticket to Daggubatis as they’re joining party in the last minute (ahead of elections) and rather wants to do justice to leaders, party workers who have been working in the grass roots from longtime.

YCP leaders allege that Daggubati Venkateswara Rao was behind imposing “false” cases against YCP party workers in the last four years. They also alleged that they are coming into the party amidst reports that YCP would come to power in the coming elections. YCP’s local cadre turning against Daggubatis is now seen as an interesting political development.

Telangana CM KCR is likely to Vizag for the second time. Vishaka’s Sri Sarada Peetham has invited for KCR for the installation of Ammavaari statue in the premises of the Peetham.

Responding positively, KCR’s office reportedly confirmed him attending it. On February 14th, KCR’s visit is scheduled and the Peetham is said to be doing large scale of arrangements for it.

KCR’s last visit to Vizag was on December 23rd. He was grandly welcomed at Vizag airport by his community supporters and few of TRS sympathizers. Also people gathered in large number outside the Peetham to have a glimpse of him. He performed Raja Shyamala ritual at the Peetham and left to Odisha then.

This visit of KCR is expected to be talk of the town even though it has no political connection.

At the Governor’s At Home event on the eve of Republic Day, media and everyone’s attention was on Pawan Kalyan as he had brief chat with Telangana CM KCR and TRS working president KTR.

The next day, the entire media invited debates about this incident. They analysed what did Pawan discuss with KCR and KTR. Pawan or Jana Sena sources did not comment even though their being a heavy criticism from the ruling and opposition parties.

But finally Pawan opened up. Addressing the public in Mangalagiri, he said, “If I talk with Telangana leaders, it doesn’t mean that I bowed my head down. I have respect for leaders who hold positions that were bound by constitution of India. I’m giving my word that I will never let down the spirit of Andhra Pradesh’s self-respect.”

Couple of media have claimed that KCR had suggested Pawan to go for a poll pact with YSRCP while KTR asked the Jana Sena chief to be extra cautious during the elections.

Irrespective of these things, Pawan has been pitching the self-respect voice a lot these days and this might be his slogan as well in the elections. How well will this pay for Pawan and Jana Sena? People of AP will decide it.

Congress National President Rahul Gandhi made a heavy promise to voters during a campaign stating that if the party is voted to power, then it will implement universal basic income for the poor.

Calling it the Minimum Income Guarantee, he said the dream of building a new India is possible by eliminating poverty. “We cannot build a new India while millions of our brothers & sisters suffer the scourge of poverty. If voted to power in 2019, the Congress is committed to a Minimum Income Guarantee for every poor person, to help eradicate poverty & hunger. This is our vision & our promise,” he explained.

The Minimum Income Guarantee is a rip-off of the Universal Basic Income idea which is being considered globally as economies become unstable and people are going out of jobs, forced into abject poverty. The idea first made its way into India through Economic Survey of India in 2016-17 which was considered for Economically Weaker Sections.

According to the data, the Congress is considering Rs.6000-7000 per person per annum which could come upto 5% of India’s GDP. While the promise definitely seems like a bright idea, its implementation and the process to roll it out still needs debate and discussion. We also need to understand its long-term benefits and whether it would really push the poor out of poverty, as intended!