The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Vishnuvardhan files papers

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Vishnuvardhan files papers

- Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Cheering on: Congress candidate P. Vishuvardhan Reddy on his way to file nomination papers on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Nervousness was evident on his face despite the presence of party stalwarts and thousands of supporters backing him. Yet one could sense the confidence that filing of nominations was just a formality before he took charge of the Constituency his father nurtured so carefully for years.

Perhaps the confidence to the Congress candidate for the Khairatabad Assembly constituency P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy came from his father’s “presence” in his pocket. Every time he signed the nomination papers he took out a photograph of PJR, kissed it, and then put it back in his pocket. He was seen constantly touching his father’s photograph and looking skywards as if to seek blessings from him. The sentiment of his father was so strong that he brought two five hundred notes apparently given by his father and ensured that the notes were part of the Rs. 5,000 deposit money. The PCC president D. Srinivas submitted the money to the Returning Officer on behalf of the candidate.

Slogans raised

Meanwhile, several of his followers outside raised the slogans of “PJR Amar Rahe” and held aloft the placards with PJR’s pictures pasted on them. It was clearly an indication that PJR will be the key for his son’s search for success in the byelections.

Mr. Vishnu filed his nomination papers amidst fanfare with the Returning Officer D. Muralidhar Reddy on Wednesday. The PCC president D. Srinivas; Minister for Vaidhya vidhana Parishad, Vanama Venkateswara Rao; Parliament member Anjan Kumar Yadav and senior party leaders accompanied him. Mr. Vishnu submitted a list of properties he owns and also an affidavit that no criminal cases are registered against him as of now. According to him, he owns a plot in Shamirpet village worth Rs. five lakh, commercial shops at Ameerpet worth Rs. 10.2 lakh, commercial building at Gowliguda worth Rs. 2.25 crore, house in Kukatpally worth Rs 1.5 crore, a house in Jubilee Hills worth Rs. 2.18 crore and another house in Jubilee Hills worth Rs. 2.48 crore. Interestingly, he doesn’t own a motor vehicle.

Speaking to the reporters, the PCC president hoped that parties that promised not to file a candidate in Khairatabad would keep their promise. He said TRS should think again on its decision to field a candidate.

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