The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Time for `Ramulamma' to take the plunge

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Tuesday, Jan 02, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Time for `Ramulamma' to take the plunge

Vijayashanti

At last, actress Vijayashanti seems to be taking the final plunge into political arena with her reported decision to join the TRS. Though she has floated the party, Telangana Talli, there has not been much of organisational activity. Significantly, it is TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao who indicated this .

`Ramulamma', as she is popularly known, hitherto, merely confined herself to participating in Bonalu festival or occasionally giving interviews to visual media about the historic inevitability of formation of Telangana. Did she realise that an occasional appearance on TV or attending Telangana festivals was not enough?

Curtains came down on speculation on who is to succeed Swaranjit Sen as the police chief but speculation is rife again on what the former police chief will be doing now. Will he be nominated for a posting in the anti-naxalite cell or is he aiming at something bigger? Sources tell us that Mr. Sen is nurturing ambitions of being entrusted with a gubernatorial assignment.

The fear factor seems to have worked wonders. The repeated assertions of the traffic police about a crackdown on the New Year's eve revellers had a big impact on the big day. The roads, surprisingly, were devoid of bumper-to-bumper traffic and the chaos, the sound and the fury synonymous with the celebrations. Many chose to stay back wherever they were, mostly resorts and party zones on the city outskirts, in the night. Some ended up hiring drivers and the big groups went on to take even buses on hire!

Duplicates are on the move in Hyderabad media. At a recent press conference held by a prominent educational institution in the city, there was this so-called journalist who introduced himself to organisers as in charge of a prominent daily's education supplement. The script was developing smoothly till a colleague of the original came in. The twist in the plot came when an organiser told him that his education supplement in charge was already there. Looking around for his colleague, the latecomer was shocked when the impostor was pointed out to him. The fake, in fact, did not give up easily. Not knowing that he was talking to a staffer, he continued after introducing himself: "You must have seen my name in the supplement." Slowly, as the truth dawned upon him, he mumbled an apology before tiptoeing away.

The atmosphere was buzzing at the Telugu Association of North America's Telugu Basha Chaitanyotsavam programme. Celebrities, dignitaries and audience occupied their seats and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief guest for the programme, was expected soon.

As the proceedings began, the Chief Minister came onstage amidst thunderous applause from the audience. Caught in the thick of the announcement, the anchor continued saying repeatedly that the Chief Minister was expected at any time, even after he joined the dignitaries on the stage.

Amused by this, the audience, including the Chief Minister, burst into laughter.

After talking and acting tough all through the year, City Police Commissioner A.K. Mohanty sprang up a surprise for his sub-ordinates at the end of year 2006. He felicitated nearly 60 policemen - from the rank of constable to Assistant Commissioner of Police - for their laudable performances. If the prizes of wall clocks and cash rewards came as pleasant surprise to the field staff, four suspended members of the ministerial staff also received a year-end gift in the form of their reinstatement order. But everyone is wondering if the kindness is in any way connected to the rumours of Commissioner being shifted.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy sure is turning out to be a man of few words. When it is more or less an accepted practice for the ruling party leaders to talk about the achievements or reiterate promises at public events, Dr. Reddy chooses to be as brief as possible and leave the venue as early as possible. Not even the New Year day's prompted him to utter a word more than necessary when he laid a foundation stone for the Langar Houz flyover. Well, Dr. Reddy seems to prefer his actions speak louder than words.

S. Sandeep Kumar, Marri Ramu and

M.L. Melly Maitreyi

K. Srinivas Reddy, K.V.S. Madhav, Dennis Marcus Mathew, S. Sandeep Kumar, Marri Ramu and M.L. Mell

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