Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Wednesday perhaps faced the most embrassing question of his life from a injured youth in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi, who asked “Who are you?”

Several days after the May 22 police firing at the anti-Sterlite Copper smelter plant protest in Thoothukudi left 13 people dead, Rajinikanth called on the injured persons admitted in the government hospital.

As he approached one patient’s bed, its occupant, a youth named Santhosh Raj slowly sat up and asked him: “Who are you?”
Rajinikanth then told the youth his name.The video of this exchange has gone viral on the internet.

For the last few days, there have been reports of ex CBI Joint Director Lakshmi Narayana’s political entry. The news of sincere police officer from Andhra Pradesh’s Srisailam, who investigated high-profile cases such Obulapuram Mining Corporation Scandal, Emaar Properties, Satyam Scandal and Jagan’s Disproportionate Assets, has raised many eyeballs. While Lakshmi Narayana had quit his job of Additional DGP of Maharashtra voluntarily to serve people, reports have it that he would float his own political party.

Amidst this, VV Lakshminarayan’s fresh comments during his visit to Nellore is gaining significance. Interacting with local people in Nellore district, Lakshminarayana has finally ended his silence and stated his political future course of action. He said that he would submit a detailed report to AP state government led by Chandrababu Naidu and provide the list of problems the people are going through. He said he would take to CM’s notice and said he would take his future action depending on CM’s response and action.

He indicated that he would take CM’s side provided he responds and takes actions as per his report or else he indicated that he may go against the ruling TDP government.

Meanwhile, speculations are going on that Lakshminarayana would join or support Pawan’s Janasena or he would join or support BJP. Let’s wait and see, what is in store for JD. Looks like, confusion may go soon about Lakshminarayana’s future political plans.

With the combined state of Andhra Pradesh getting divided to carve out Telangana state almost four years ago, both the states have looked for official symbols to represent their respective cultural identities.

While Telangana took a quick initiative to declare its official icons for the new state almost three years ago, it took four years for the AP government to identify and notify its official symbols.

The AP government on Wednesday notified Rama Chiluka (rose-ringed parakeet) as its official bird, Malle Puvvu (jasmine) as official flower, Krishna Jinka (black buck) as official animal and Vepa Chettu (Neem tree) as official tree.

A notification to this effect was released by the ministry of environment and forests on Wednesday.

The government made changes in the state official symbol. Instead of Pragathi Chakram (Wheel of Progress) used in the combined state, it has now declared Sunrise State symbol as the official symbol which would be used in all the gazette notifications and correspondence.

The Telangana government has already been using its official symbols for the last three years. While Palapitta (Blue Jay) is the state bird, Jinka (deer) is state animal, Jammi Chettu is state tree and Tangedu Puvvu is the state flower.

Chandrababu Naidu often says that the strength of a political party is its cadre and he is absolutely right.Why is cadre so important? Because, it is the cadre that takes government policies to the people and works tirelessly for the party.

Irrespective of the political climate in the State or nation, the cadres is fiercely loyal and always vote for their party.The TDP has an excellent army of cadre in Andhra Pradesh and YSRCP too benefitted from Congress and YSR supporters switching to YS Jagan after bifurcation.

Political analysts say that one of the mistakes Chiranjeevi made when he floated the Praja Rajyam was to assume that all fans would automatically vote for him.

Unfortunately, the majority of fans are youth and some of them are of the age where they are not eligible to vote either. Therefore, Pawan Kalyan should ideally start at the grassroots level and prepare his cadre.

Having declared his intention of the Jana Sena contesting in all 175 seats in 2019, the power star has set himself a Himalayan task and cannot expect favorable results without any cadre.

In fact, after 2014, he should ideally have used the period to do this but his film commitments and prolonged periods of absence resulted in a golden opportunity being wasted. But as they say, better late than never!

After 16-day continuous increase in the raise of fuel prices, Indian Oil Corp’s (IOC) has reduced ‘1 paise’ giving a ‘relief’ to people. Initially, IOC website had shown the fall as 50 to 60 paise per litre, that it later retracted to 1 paisa saying that it was a “technical glitch”.

While the price was increased nearly Rs 4 per litre during May 14 to May 29 with an average increase of 15 to 30 paise daily, the reduction of 1 paisa invited severe wrath of people. Netizens, Twitterati ‘petrolled’ Modi.

Starting from Opposition Congress to several parties and Chief Ministers of Punjab, Kerala have criticized the move to cut down 1 paisa. While Kerala CM has announced a cut of Rs 1 per litre on the tax on fuel, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh described ‘1 paisa’ reduction of fuel price as a cruel joke.

Tweets on 1 Paise Reduction

Rahul Gandhi : Dear Prime Minister, you have cut the price of petrol and diesel today by 1 paisa. ONE paisa!?? If this is your idea of a prank, it is childish and in poor taste. P.S: A ONE paisa cut is not a suitable response to the #FuelChallenge I threw you last week.

Nagarjuna Chidara wrote, “Woah..! 1Paise reduced… Thank God for reducing the petrol price.”