The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Poll rhetoric

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Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Poll rhetoric

The phraseology employed by politicians in criticising their opponents is becoming sharper and more bitter as elections draw nearer. CPI State secretary K. Narayana has recently called some MLAs of the ruling Congress a gang of bandits. His comment has triggered a lot of heat and dust with the Congress leaders taking strong objection and even calling Narayana names. During his recent visit to the city, scribes raised the issue before Mr. Narayana once again. They asked what forced him to make such pungent comments against MLAs. The CPI leader said that by saying so, he actually might have brought a worse name to bandits. Some apt words should be found to suitably describe these MLAs’ highly objectionable activities, he remarked, evoking laughter among listeners.

MP’s new ‘avatar’

It was like Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal was wearing a disguise. It was difficult for all those, who are accustomed to seeing Mr. Rajagopal in the usual khadi kurta pyjama, to recognise him in the half-sleeved shirt, trousers and shoes at the alumni meeting of the Andhra Loyola College. Mr. Rajagopal probably changed his attire because he was attending a function held in the college where he studied, where he had to meet teachers under whom he studied. He was also given the august responsibility of chairing a panel discussion on a subject like “Profession and Social Commitment”. The news photographers, however, saw this as an opportunity and captured the MP in the new get up. They even made him stand aloof from all others to photograph him in the special attire. Surprisingly, even the shutterbugs among the audience who came attend the function thronged the dais to take pictures of the MP in the new garb.

Recession blues

Hotels and restaurants in the city may be competing with each other to announce special New Year celebrations, but clearly all is not well. With recession continuing to have its stranglehold on the economy in general and hospitality industry in particular, there are fears about a good response to these celebrations.

Though the managements have priced the tickets higher, they are keeping their fingers crossed as they wonder whether they would be able to sell all the tickets and recover their investments. Some hotels have already started offering heavy discounts on the announced prices, while others are offering gift vouchers and other enticements to attract New Year revellers.

The owner of a gift shoppe and greeting cards bitterly complained that there is a 60 per cent drop in sale of cards this year.

Obviously, bulk buyers like corporate houses are refraining from spending money on greeting cards as part of cost cutting. Well, may be some relief at least for the Department of Post.

G. Ravikiran,

G.V.Ramana Rao

and K. Srimali

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