Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy appears to come to the conclusion that some of his ministers need a crash course in a subject that has become central to politics — social media. With the Opposition busy scoring digital points, the CM is learnt to have told ministers, in effect, that doing good work is only half the job; telling people about it is the other half. The PR machinery in several ministerial offices has reportedly come under the scanner, with some teams seemingly still treating Instagram, X and Facebook as optional subjects. Now, consultants, political analysts and professional PR agencies are being brought in to provide the missing lessons. CMO officials, ministerial PR teams and I&PR personnel are being trained to package government schemes, respond to criticism and push content faster. Dedicated digital teams are also being planned in key departments. The CM’s message is reportedly simple: If a scheme is launched in the morning, the social media lesson must reach the people before lunch.
‘Fuelling’ a plot: Why ministers couldn’t get a copter
Bad weather and helicopters don’t go together but in this case, the bad weather just about arrived in time. In what could qualify as a new chapter in VIP travel management, bad weather apparently arrived in the nick of the moment to cover up a shortage of fuel. Ministers C. Damodar Rajanarsimha and Jupally Krishna Rao, who flew to Adilabad in a helicopter, were reportedly told that the whirlybird could not take off for Hyderabad because of adverse weather conditions. With the skies conveniently taking the blame, the ministers were left with little choice but to travel back by road. But the weather excuse soon ran into a small problem — a fuel truck. After the ministers had left Adilabad, officials were reportedly caught filling the helicopter with fuel brought from Nanded. The same copter that was apparently grounded by the weather was thus busy being refuelled. It subsequently flew back to Hyderabad without the ministers. The episode has left officials facing an awkward question: Was the helicopter grounded by the weather, or by the lack of fuel? Either way, the ministers took the long road home, while the helicopter apparently found both fuel and flying weather after they had gone.
At Karimnagar, bank job ‘grab’ goes unchallenged
If nothing, bank officials keep track of accounts, at least of what happens to whom in the management. Such was the case with some top level officials of Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank (KDCCB) who reportedly went on leave following former bank chairman Konduri Ravinder Rao taking charge as in-charge chairman. It did not stop there — some of the officials switched-off their mobile phones. Though Rao ‘assumed the chair’ on September 21 and cited a GO issued in August of last year, cooperatives department officials instructed bank officials to lodge a police complaint against him. But bank CEO N. Satyanarayana Rao, who too went on leave, apparently responded asking for written instructions for the same. And with several on leave, and their mobiles turned off, it is not just government officials, but even bank customers who have been left hanging with their respective businesses with the bank.
NRR finds traction in labels
One name deserves another. Especially if it is designed to tear into a government initiative, or opposition campaign. Following this principle is Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao who turned the Congress government’s flagship ‘Bhu Bharati’ initiative, touted as a dream project, as well the earlier BRS’s Dharani, as an insiatiable ‘Bhu Bakasura’ invoking the mythological demon whose hunger could never be sated. The portals, according to Rao, devoured the hopes of people instead of delivering relief. Then came the topic of students being caned for demanding fee reimbursement and Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chatron ki goonj’ which, Rao said, has turned into ‘Chatron ko Badu’ in Telangana. Not stopping there, the BJP leader said things might work for people if they communicate with the Congress in Italian, do some ‘parlami’ with the Congress, and not in Telugu.
Will Kondas resist the ‘Delhi call’?
The Konda couple, the once powerful family in Warangal, is reportedly biding its time for the next move. The couple, Surekha and Murali, facing uncomfortable times in the Congress, have been silent for most part ever since Surekha was dropped by the state Cabinet, fuelling speculation about a possible strategy behind the silence. Will they continue in the Congress? Will they finally respond to the much-talked-about ‘Delhi call?’ Or is another political option being quietly examined? The ‘Delhi call’ itself has become something of a political riddle. While Murali said Surekha was summoned to Delhi, she did not make the trip. Meanwhile, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud’s “Konda chapter is closed” remark added another twist to the episode. Yet, he also maintained that the Konda couple had said they would remain in the Congress. Then there is the prospect of a bypoll if Surekha makes any drastic move, which could turn her constituency, Warangal East, into a high-stakes political potboiler involving the Congress, BJP and BRS.
Asad holds out marital advise to husbands
Trust AIMIM chief and Hyderabad’s MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, to give some sane advice. At a recent public meeting in Kanpur, Asad asking men to tell their wives “I love you, my dear” at least thrice a day while looking into the wife’s eyes, left the large gathering wondering what was up with the shift in gears from the political to a personal in the middle of a speech. Asad said husbands need not feel shy or awkward about expressing affection, and tell their wives they love them in the morning, afternoon, and night before going to bed. This was not the first time Asad had some marital advice to give. Earlier at a different event, which was also Asad had remarked that a “good man is one who serves or does ‘ghulami’ to his wife,” using humour to emphasise respect and care at home. For someone known for incisive and sharp insights into the political arena of the country, Asad’s latest personal advice sparked some discussions on social media platforms, and some memes too. Asad’s message, has clearly made its way to the people.
Contributions from L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Raghu Paithari, Neeraj Kumar, Narlagiri Yadagiri, Md Nizamuddin
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
