The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Shutterbugs disappointed

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Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Shutterbugs disappointed

It could have been one of the most unusual and unexpected photographs to click, if only the photographers had their way. But they could not. The lensmen, who came to take pictures of MP V. Hanumantha Rao’s visit to Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna’s residence finished clicking the routine pictures of two leaders greeting each other, but waited outside for them to complete their parleys. They were suddenly jolted when Mr. Radhakrishna’s mother and former MLA Ratnakumari, who resides elsewhere, descended there to call on Mr. Hanumantha Rao as a matter of courtesy. As Mr. Radhakrishna and his mother were said to be going through a strained relation, their meeting after a long gap was a photograph worth clicking, the lensmen thought. But, to their utter disappointment, they were stopped by Mr. Radhakrishna’s aides from entering the small room. Even as they patiently waited with the hope of clicking the picture at the end of the meeting, they were disappointed once again when Mr. Radhakrishna emerged out of the room with only Mr. Hanumnatha Rao.

Narrow escape

Former Union Minister Parvataneni Upendra some time ago released his autobiography in two parts. Fond of chronicling his life, the senior politician, while releasing the second part, brought out a compact disc filled with pictures of him with other celebraties. Mr. Upendra, however, had a narrow escape when a Congress leader almost released a pamphlet on “highlights” (read not-so-pleasant things) of his life, after he announced that he would join Praja Rajyam. A word was sent to every newspaper and television channel that Mallika Begum, then the Mayor still, would herself release the pamphlet containing the details of different parties Mr. Upendra had changed and other unsavoury information about the life of this seasoned politician. But, for reasons unknown, release of the pamphlet was cancelled at the last-minute. The word in the grapevine is that Mr. Upendra’s son-in-law and the local MP prevailed on his party colleague to drop the endeavour.

Cover-up bid!

There seems to be no escape for any one from the vigilant eyes of the media. A three-member team of top officials of the Forest Department inspected the destroyed mangroves in nearly 73 acres at Polatithippa near Machilipatnam recently. The local officials tried to keep it a closely-guarded secret, but in vain. Even the forest officials looked for ways to prevent the media from accompanying them, but they could not. They did not speak a word to the media and even objected to the media team travelling along with them in a boat. A reporter lost patience and asked whether it was a tourist visit for the officials. If it was not, there should be no reason for so much secrecy to be maintained about the visit, he said.

Kissa kursi ka

Journalists on the VMC beat were eager to attend a press conference convened by Deputy Mayor Samanthapudi Narasaraju in his office a couple of days ago. The reason: They were informed that Mallika Begum, who stepped down as Mayor just two days before, would also join Mr. Narasaraju. The reporters curiously waited to observe her feelings and expressions while sitting in a small chair next to Mr. Narasaraju, her deputy till two days before. As if she read the reporters’ faces, Ms. Begum was quick to say: “I know that chair is not everlasting.” A scribe retorted by asking her why a drama was enacted before tendering the resignation, “if it is really kissa kursi ka (wrangling for the chair)?” While she had a tough time defending herself, Mr. Narasaraju cleverly steered the discussion away from her by enquiring about the whereabouts of beat reporters who were absent that day.

A politician and sportsman

Many are not aware that MP Lagadapati Rajagopal is a good table tennis player during his days as a student of engineering at VR Siddhartha Engineering College here. At the inaugural of the 70th sub-junior national table tennis championship, he narrated how he used to feel jealous about one P. Satyanarayana Murthy of Kanthi Graphic Metals (known as Suri in TT circles), who was the champion then. “I used to practise hard to match him stroke to stroke,” he said. The MP, as if talking about himself, said that those who played a game or sport in their formative years would always be a cut above the rest. Both the MP and Commissioner of Police K.V. Rajendranath Reddy wielded the racquets in gay abandon, much to the delight of the shutterbugs.

Collector’s day out

District Collector B. Venkatesham took some time from his busy schedule on Monday morning to spend time with inmates of an old-age home near Perecharla. But what extended the otherwise short programme of the Collector, was a visit to Kailasagiri and the abode of Lord Shiva. The visit was made possible largely due to persuasion of Thurimella Bhaskara Rao. Drive up the hill was quite bumpy, but Mr. Venkatesham manfully trekked the hill and later offered his prayers at the temple. The visit turned into an eye opener as one was able to see the extent of damage caused to the hill by the stone crushing units. Moved by the sight, the Collector promised immediate action. The temple would also get a face lift soon, he told pilgrims. It was a Collector’s day out.

(K. Srimali, G.V. Ramana Rao, G. Ravikiran, G.V.R. Subba Rao and J R Shridharan inVijayawada and P. Samuel Jonathan in Guntur)

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