The missing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name and photo at the launch of Metro Rail service from LB Nagar to Ameerpet in Hyderabad has turned into a big political controversy. Angered over not appearing Modi’s photos on official posters and flexes, senior most BJP leader and former union minister Bandaru Dattatreya boycotted the function in the midway.

Dattatreya along with Governor ESL Narasimhan and IT Minister KT Rama Rao traveled by metro rain up to Mahatma Gandhi Bus station after they launched the services. Soon after reaching the bus station, the BJP leader get down from train all of a sudden and left the station without informing the chief guests.

Dattatreya maintained that centre sanctioned nearly Rs 1800 crore as part of the union government’s contribution for the metro rail project. It was the responsibility of the state government as well as the agency involved in the construction of the metro project to accord due respect to the central leaders mainly PM and union Urban Development ministry.

Taking everyone by surprise, BJP national chief Amit Shah has posted a Telugu tweet. Surprisingly, he attacked the TRS. As elections in Telangana are fast approaching, Shah’s Telugu tweet attacking TRS and also asking BJP party workers to reach to people indicate that BJP is gearing up for elections in Telangana.

Accusing TRS of adopting anti-people stand, BJP chief Amit Shah in his Telugu tweet has asked his party workers and leaders to expose the TRS. He asked them to go house-to-house and explain the people about the wrong doing of the Telangana government. Shah also demanded the Telangana state government to explain its position to people on why it couldn’t pass on the ‘benefit’ of Prime Minister’s brainchild program ‘Pradhan Mantri Jana Arogya Yojana – Ayushman Bharat’ (PM-JAY)

Replying to Amit Shah, KTR wrote, “You’re clearly misinformed @AmitShah Ji. The successful Arogya Sri program of Telangana is far superior in terms of coverage (80 lakh families) in comparison to Ayushman Bharat (only 25 lakh families in Telangana). We are a role model state in Universal health coverage.”

While PM-JAY has its own limitations, Arogya Sri is better in terms of catering to people. KTR reiterated that the state government program is way ahead of the Centre’s fresh plan on health.

The killing of Aaraku MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao has shocked the Telugu states. On Tuesday couple of media channels have managed to get the footage of the entire episode.

Going by the visuals, nearly 10 to 15 Maoists who dressed up like the local villagers have surrounded Kidari’s car and after couple of minutes, the deceased MLA was made to get down of the car. There is also other footage wherein the Maoists are seen escaping post killing the MLA.

Based on the visuals, the police are identifying the Maoists with the help of Kidari’s car driver who is the prime witness of this whole episode. So far three Maoists are identified and photos of them are being shared to the media and other police stations across Vizag.

Meanwhile, a massive manhunt is launched by the police and several teams are deployed to nab the culprits as early as possible.

A video purportedly showing a group of Muslim men in a mosque pledging their support to the TRS in the upcoming Telangana assembly polls in the presence of a state minister has gone viral, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer to order a probe.

Some people in the video are seen promising Transport Minister in the caretaker government Patnam Mahender Reddy their vote and the latter thanking them for their support. Reddy will be the party’s candidate for the Thandur seat.

“There were some newspaper reports and complaints have also been made. Now, since the model code of conduct is not on, if a voter takes the oath, I don’t think it falls within the purview of the electoral code violation. But we have asked the district electoral officer concerned to give a report on that,” state’s CEO Rajat Kumar told PTI.

He said if there was some violation like inducements being made, necessary action will follow. Mahender Reddy could not be contacted immediately for comments.

Opposition parties, meanwhile, alleged that TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and other leaders were doing “communal politics” and engaging in “cheap tricks” to win the elections.

Telangana Congress spokesperson Sravan Dasoju said the party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and he has also personally tweeted to the poll panel asking as to why it is not stepping in to check such practices and “manipulations”.

“The TRS, out of the fear of failure, is resorting to this kind of anti-Constitution practice which is detrimental to the principles of secret ballot. This is cheap way of manipulating people. KCR is now scared and has realised that he committed a mistake by calling early polls,” Dasoju said.

State BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said the video reflected the politics of “Muslim appeasement” by TRS leaders.

“It’s a clear violation of Representation of People Act. KCR seems to be the role model for leaders such as this (Mahender Reddy). It is a brazen violation of the law of the land to seek votes on the basis of religion,” Rao said, adding the BJP condemned such “low-level politics”.

Rao said his party will explore legal options so stern action is taken against Reddy.