With the ‘costly’ treatment for a simple dental problem of Andhra Pradesh finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu turning out be a controversial issue, the Telugu Desam Party on Friday came out with an explanation defending the whole episode.TDP official spokesman Lanka Dinakar told media that Yanamala had to undergo treatment at Singapore because he had a sudden and unexpected illness when he was there on an official visit.He said Yanamala had undergone dental treatment at AP Dental Hospital, Road No 10, Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad in the hands of Dr Kadiyala Rajendra before his official trip to Singapore in April.

“The treatment was incomplete due to time constraint as he had to rush to Singapore on an official trip. During his stay in Singapore, Yanamala had unfortunately faced unbearable pain and hence, he had to be admitted immediately in a local dental hospital,” Dinakar said.He said that the finance minister had undergone flap surgery and bone grafting in Singapore.“This can be verified from Dr Kadiyala Rajendra for facts. As far as costing is concerned, it is on a higher side in Singapore, as the doctors there charged around 4000 to 5000 Singapore dollars for this treatment,” he explained.In addition to that, Yanamala required 4 caps to be installed to his tooth, but he did not get them implanted in Singapore, but got it done in Hyderabad, Dinakar informed.

Sources said the media reports of this costly treatment to Yanamala reached even chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who enquired with the authorities about how it all happened.

He is learnt to have commented that such controversies should have been avoided.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has recalled his association with TDP founder NTR. Venkaiah has shared an interesting anecdote that took place in 1983 when he himself had contested for direct election for Assembly constituency Udayagiri in Nellore district.

Venkaiah said NTR was supposed to come to his constituency for the campaign, but he hadn’t – only because NTR wanted him to win the election. Venkaiah recalled that NTR had sent his man Daggubati Chenchu Ramaiah to him and personally conveyed him that NTR wouldn’t campaign in his constituency. Chenchu Ramaiah apparently told Naidu that NTR didn’t come for the campaign only because he was fighting against Congress. He said he had won the election as NTR wanted. Venkaiah reminsced this instance with his close aides in Vijayawada.

As Chandrababu Naidu is inching close to Congress, Venkaiah Naidu’s comments have gained significance. Since Venkaiah is in the constitutional post and didn’t want to elaborate on politics, he seems to have smartly conveyed his message to Chandrababu.

On the eve of completing one year in the post of Vice President of India, Venkaiah said how he had feared when he was given the huge task of Vice President. Venkaiah said when he had been asked to become Vice President, he had thought of when and how these 5 years would over since he couldn’t go alone without protocol or he couldn’t talk of his choice, freedom. Now, Venkaiah expressed his shock that 1 year is already over and time just flew.

However, Venkaiah said the biggest challenge and worry for him is the running of Rajya Sabha for which he is the Chairman. He said his wish is to elevate the stature of the Upper House, but he said he is so worried over the way the House is being functioned. He openly said he is going through an internal conflict over the functioning of Rajya Sabha. He asked all political parties to focus on the functioning of Legislative Houses in proper order, discipline.

One more political party in addition to the existing parties have come up in Andhra Pradesh before 2019 elections. Araku Parliamentary Constituency Kothapalli Geeta announced the launch of her own political outfit naming it as “Jana Jagruthi” party.

Geeta was elected MP from YSR Congress Party in 2014 elections. She tried to shift loyalties to TDP. However, she did not join the ruling party as she felt TDP is not fit to her to pursue a political career.

She has been inactive in Andhra politics for the last one year. With an objective to empower SC and ST communities, Geeta floated Jana Jagruthi. She also announced Umbrella as her party symbol indicating to bring all SC and ST communities under a single roof.

Raising serious concerns against the Trump administration’s H-1B policy, as many as 59 CEOs of top global companies have written a signed letter to the US President Donald Trump requesting to avoid making changes in the policy.

A group of the Chief Executive Officers representing the largest US companies including Apple, Pepsi Co, American Airlines, JPMorgan Chase & Co have cautioned the Trump government that the changes in the H-1B Visa policy may increase uncertainty and undermine the economic growth. In a joint letter signed by all the CEOs, they expressed that tightening the immigration policy would have telling effect on US competitiveness.

The group in unison said that many of their employees are now facing uncertainty owing to the issues such as ‘inconsistent immigration decisions’ which would curb the work permits to spouses of skilled immigrants. Hence, the group asked Trump government to avoid making changes that disrupt the lives of thousands of law-abiding and skilled employees. “At a time when the number of job vacancies are reaching historic highs due to labour shortages, now is not the time to restrict access to talent,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, Nielsen, a Trump appointee, told reporters at a White House briefing on Thursday that the administration was only strictly enforcing the law. He clearly defended saying that the administration did not create a policy of separating families but only enforcing the law strictly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is cornered with latest allegations by Karuna Shukla, Congress Party leader and niece of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. BJP launched ‘Asthi Kalash Yatra’ in all states to immerse the ashes of Atal ji in all holy rivers across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself handed out ‘asthi kalash’ to all the BJP state presidents.

This attendees to the event in New Delhi include Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s daughter Namitha Bhattacharya, cabinet ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, national president of BJP-Amit Shah and senior members of the party.

But, taking a strong objection to the Yatra, Karuna Shukla alleged that BJP is using the death of Vajpayee ji for its political advantage. During a TV interview, Karuna said that ‘BJP is trying to earn the sympathy of voters by doing politics with Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s death. Till he (Atal) was alive, BJP used his name for the political gains. Now, they (BJP) are trying to gain political mileage with his death.’

Karuna Shukla, who was elected to Lok Sabha in 2004 from BJP, also found fault with the rallies conducted by BJP leaders with the ashes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.