Mega Star Chiranjeevi after floating Praja Rajyam party announcing his grand entry into politics shocked all by merging the same with Congress. Though many years passed after the merger and Chiru becoming the Union Minister, people suspect he sold his party on quid pro quo basis to become Minister and critise him for the same. Mega Star Chiranjeevi never spoke in detail about the merger though even his brother Power Star Pawan Kalyan differed with him and parted ways. 

However today speaking to media after garlanding Baba Saheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary, he said he merged his party with Congress only to deliver economic and social justice to all. He said he witnessed social and economic justice implemented in Congress party and felt only it will deliver it to people and so decided to merge his PRP.

Will the political rivalry between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister KCR take a new turn? There are stories going around in political circles that the Telangana government is ready to pass two resolutions against Chandra Babu Naidu any time soon. A controversy has surfaced over the 850 acres of land which was allocated to IMG Bharath when he was the chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. In fact, he had assigned the land to them when he was the caretaker CM. 

Later, when the Congress came to power, the deal was taken back. The latest media reports suggest that KCR government has decided to start an inquiry into the matter now. Meanwhile, the T government is also considering launching another inquiry into the allocation of 500 acres of land to Emaar Projects during Babu’s term. According to the stories, the Telangana government is all set to officially request the Central government to launch a CBI probe into the two issues. 

Though the CBI had already inquired Emaar deal in the past, at the time, CBI was criticized for staying away from Chandra Babu Naidu. So, if T government requests an investigation, will the Centre respond pro-actively? Apparently, the T government is also contemplating to move the High Court and then the Supreme Court if Centre does not oblige. 

Chandra Babu will have nothing to worry about in the IMG case as the deal was struck off long back. However, the Emaar case might turn into a slight headache for Babu if the Telangana government insists on an inquiry through CBI. Since the case is already being handled by CBI, this might turn into a pain point for Babu. If their plans work out, the political rivalry between KCR and Chandra Babu will reach a totally different level.

A shutdown was observed in parts of Hyderabad Saturday on a call given by some Muslim groups to mark the 22nd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed and vehicles were off the roads in the old city and other Muslim-majority areas as police stepped up security to prevent any untoward incident. The usual hustle bustle around historic Charminar was missing while the roads in the centuries-old markets wore a deserted look. 

Shops downed the shutters in response to the shutdown call given by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) and other groups. Police said the situation was peaceful. Large number of policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces were deployed near historic Makkah Masjid. A tight vigil is being maintained across the old city as the attempts to take out rallies by some organisations and also celebration of Vijay Diwas by some others led to violence in the past. 

Police have banned rallies, meetings, rallies, processions and dharnas in the limits of both Hyderabad and Cyerabad police commissionerates to maintain peace and harmony. Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy said the orders were issued in view of reliable information that certain groups are trying to create disturbances affecting public peace and order and inciting communal animosity between different communities. 

Black flags were hoisted at many places in the old city as Muslim groups have called for observing black day. A shutdown is also being observed in Nampally, Mehdipatnam, Asif Nagar, Toli Chowki, Golconda and other areas of the city. Muslims also participated in the shutdown in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and other towns in Telangana. Police have sounded the alert across the state in view of the shutdown call.

According to reports coming from Delhi, there are chances that the state of Andhra Pradesh might be given the much awaited tag of special status. But again this may not be possible with the existing name. This is because other states ruled by different CM’s have been objecting that all their projects would be going off to Andhra Pradesh. 

Hence, sources say that Modi government has assured AP that there wouldn’t be any such special name called special status. However, Andhra Pradesh will get the same benefits. It has to be seen whether Chandrababu would accept this proposal. The prevailing opinion is the benefits matter and not the name as such, so this may be fine for AP.

In a way, special status is only possible when other state CM’s also give their support during a meeting of National Development Council. Given the way Naidu has been pushing AP aggressively, the special status is going to be a shot in the arm for the state’s development.