Category: Andhra Pradesh

Blogs on Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh, Political blogs5 Comments

Decoding Pawan Kalyan’s political strategy

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir   Let it be said loud and clear. Chandrababu Naidu and YS Jaganmohan Reddy can ignore Pawan Kalyan at their own peril. It will be easy to dis Pawan’s political moves as filmy antics or make unflattering comparisons with his elder brother Chiranjeevi who entered politics with high aspirations in 2008 but has now returned to the world of greasepaint and glamour. If the optics of the reception the Jana Sena founder is getting is anything to go by, he has emerged as the third axis of Andhra politics.    Critics of this theory will say … Continue reading Decoding Pawan Kalyan’s political strategy

Andhra Pradesh, Jaganmohan Reddy, Political blogs3 Comments

Notes from polling day

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir My previous blog that talked about a neck-and-neck fight in Seemandhra with a slight edge to Naidu, exposed me to much abuse from YSR Congress. Not that TDP supporters are any better. You say anything remotely critical of their boss and they come at you like an organised troll army. I wonder why either of them expects unbiased mediapersons to be biased? I am a passionate student of politics and to cheapen this fascination by attributing motives just exposes their own biases. Here are my observations from my own field trip to Krishna district on polling … Continue reading Notes from polling day

Andhra Pradesh, Political blogs6 Comments

Battle for Andhra Pradesh : Naidu vs Jagan

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir Disclaimer : This post is not about predicting who will win the battle for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. At least I will not stick my neck out in public because in the age of social media, I do not want my Twitter timeline to be abused by trolls using inappropriate vocabulary.  It is a fascinating contest taking place in the heat and dust of Seemandhra. The mood is angry out there as the wounds of bifurcation haven’t healed completely, the feeling of `we will show them’ is burning in their hearts. They are still … Continue reading Battle for Andhra Pradesh : Naidu vs Jagan

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What’s cooking between Modi and Nagarjuna?

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir Just why did Telugu superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna go all the way to Ahmedabad to visit Narendra Modi? The visit raised eyebrows because it came just days after Congress leader Chiranjeevi’s actor-brother Pawan Kalyan had called on Modi. Kalyan and Modi’s common war cry of “Congress hatao, desh bachao” bound them together. But what was cooking between Modi and Nagarjuna? Conspiracy theories have been flying thick and fast since it was revealed that Nagarjuna will meet Modi. Was he seeking a BJP ticket for wife actor-activist Amala? Was it to ensure “protection” (to quote a Telangana BJP … Continue reading What’s cooking between Modi and Nagarjuna?

Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, Political blogs10 Comments

Is Kalyan the `Pawan’ of change in Andhra Pradesh?

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir Title of screening : Jana Sena Cast : Pawan Kalyan Running time : 105 minutes Release date : 14 March 2014  Screening at Novotel Hotel convention centre, Hyderabad Rating : 2.5/5 If `Jana Sena’ were to be a film, it would get fantastic reviews: if the reactions of the two film journalists flanking me at the opening show was anything to go by, Pawan Kalyan has delivered a total paisa vasool film. The lady to my left spent more time clapping to the Power Star’s punch dialogues rather than taking down notes while the exuberant journalist … Continue reading Is Kalyan the `Pawan’ of change in Andhra Pradesh?

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Decoding Kiran Kumar Reddy’s gameplan

Uma Sudhir

  By T S Sudhir As Kiran Kumar Reddy and the assortment of four ex-Congress MPs and a former state minister joined hands and raised them in the air, one couldn’t help thinking – “How Third Frontish”. After all, this `Hands Up’ style is patented by the group of the Lefties, the Mulayams and the Deve Gowdas that comes together once every five years, driven by the common ambition to put their hand up to become the next prime minister of India. Kiran Reddy is also the Third Front in the new divided state of Andhra Pradesh, determined to stop … Continue reading Decoding Kiran Kumar Reddy’s gameplan

Andhra Pradesh, Political blogs1 Comment

Kiran and his lameduck government

Uma Sudhir

By T S Sudhir The divide in Andhra Pradesh never looked more stark. The state assembly on Monday witnessed the strange sight of the ministers storming the well of the House. What’s worse, these ministers from the Telangana region were protesting against their own boss – chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who on Saturday had asked the assembly speaker N Manohar for permission to move a resolution seeking to reject the state Reorganisation Bill sent by the President to the House. If you needed any more proof that the government in Andhra Pradesh is a lameduck government, you need not … Continue reading Kiran and his lameduck government

Andhra Pradesh, Child rights, Human interest blogs1 Comment

She would have been Mother India

Uma Sudhir

By Uma Sudhir Some news reports make you feel ashamed and guilty, wrench at your heart. And leave you wondering how any of this is going to change. From where do we begin. A 12-year-old child committed suicide in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh because she was disappointed and heartbroken that her parents did not buy her a pair of silver anklets that she so deeply desired. Anusha had wanted to dress up as Mother India for Republic Day celebrations at her school. She asked her father for a new dress, a lehenga and half saree, and a pair of … Continue reading She would have been Mother India