Hyderabad Blues

R.I.P.

Telugu Desam leader and former MP K Yerrannaidu's tragic death in a road accident on November 2 has plunged the party into gloom. Yerrannaidu was 55. One of the senior leaders in Telugu Desam, Yerran joined the TDP in 1982 and then stayed on Chandrababu Naidu’s side when the latter rebelled against N. T. Rama Rao. A four-time MLA and a four-time MP, Yerrannaidu became a union minister (Rural Development) in the NDA government. He, however, had to resign when Chandrababu Naidu decided to withdraw from the NDA government and severed ties with the BJP. Apart from senior leaders like Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Devender Goud, Yerrannaidu was a senior leader who was widely respected not just within the party but even by members of the Congress, BJP and TRS and the Left parties. He was defeated for the first time in his career by Killi Kruparani of the Congress (minister of state for IT and communications). Kruparani wrested the Srikakulam Parliamentary seat from him in 2009. But Yerrannaidu continued to be a party pointsman, always available to party cadre and other leaders. "He was generous by nature and always lent a helping hand in Delhi when he was MP there. He never differentiated between an MLA, an MP or a grassroot level worker. For Yerrannaidu, all party persons were equal and their problems were all addressed," says TDP leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy. Yerrannaidu was travelling in a Mahindra Xylo at 2.30 am on the Highway near Ranasthalam in Srikakulam district when his vehicle collided with an oil tanker. The former MP was thrown against the dashboard and sustained serious injuries to the heart and lungs. Yerrannaidu was asthmatic and always kept some oxygen at hand as he suffered from shortness of breath. Even as he was being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, he kept muttering, "Oxygen, oxygen". Sadly, there was no oxygen cylinder in the ambulance, which doctors admit was a crucial factor leading to his death. Chandrababu Naidu, who broke down on seeing his late colleague's body, told mediapersons in a ragged voice, "I will miss him. I have lost my right hand." Yerrannaidu's snappy oratory rendered him a media favourite. He was always at hand to give out quotes or bytes and his sense of humour was deadpan. In fact he was more sought after than sitting MPs by journalists because it was widely accepted that if you wanted an incisive opinion with a dash of wit, Yerran was the man to go to. He will be missed. 

TDP sources reveal that former minister T. Devender Goud who exited from the TDP briefly on the Telangana issue and then rejoined the party is suffering from cancer. The senior party leader has limited his public appearances and is being treated for the disease in the US. 

'Insulting Portrayals'

After the A Woman in Braammanism controversy, another film to have angered the Brahmin community is Denikaina Ready starring Manchu Vishnu and Hansika. Brahmin groups have been staging state-wide protests against the film for its insulting portrayal of the community. Some of the scenes showing Brahmin priests relishing haleem and a 'loose-moralled' Brahmin woman have incensed the community to such a great extent that they even attacked Vishnu's house in Jubilee Hills. Vishnu and his actor-father Mohan Babu insist that the scenes are in lighter vein and not meant to insult any particular community. Vishnu says that the protests have in fact generated huge publicity for the film, which he would have had to pay for otherwise. The actor had a rough time when he went to the State Human Rights Commission office to make a statement and beat a hasty retreat when he faced violent protesters again. The Malkajgiri police station in the city has filed a case against Vishnu Manchu, comedian Brahmanandam and producer Nageswar Reddy under various sections. Brahmin Sangham leaders have made a representation to home minister Sabitha Reddy seeking her intervention to delete the objectionable scenes. They have threatened a hunger strike in the event of their demands being ignored. 

Deferred Dreams

TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao who had said that he would soon announce his party’s plan for a fresh Telangana stir has postponed any such announcement. A meeting in Karimnagar where KCR was to announce a fresh movement has been put off indefinitely. The leader continues to maintain a low profile after his return from Delhi. Party sources that his health has been fragile of late. His tiff with Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman Kodanda Ram is also not helping matters. KCR is unhappy with the limelight Kodanda Ram has grabbed of late with regard to the T-struggle. In the meantime, Telangana Congress leaders have taken their grievances to Delhi again asking for a quick solution to the statehood issue.

Nature's Fury

Heavy rains brought in by the Nilam cyclone have ravaged at least 10 districts in the state, particularly East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam. There have been around 30 deaths so far in the floods and crops in lakhs of hectares have been damaged. Against this backdrop, reports have begun to emerge again that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to be replaced by Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who is currently serving as Vice-Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority. The date given out by “doomsdayers” is November 9.

Gangnam Style

Tennis star Sania Mirza is the latest celebrity to shake a leg to Korean singer Psy’s Gangnam Style. Sania showed the crowd a few of her dance moves as she flagged off a fitness walk at KBR Park in the city. She even did some skipping exercises, and said she was glad that Hyderabadis who are often dubbed laidback had taken to fitness in a big way of late. Sania looks more toned now and attributes this to a change in her gym workout. Sania, who will be pairing with Bob Bryan in the mixed doubles from now on, is quite enthusiastic. She hopes that this will give her career a further boost.