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Telugu Desam Party gears up for annual conclave ‘Mahanadu’ at Ongole

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Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is gearing up to hold its ‘Mahandu’ or annual conclave near Ongole on May 27 and 28 with the party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu exhorting party cadres to be ready for early elections.

The party on Wednesday began preparations for the event on 80 acres of land at Manduvari Palem on the outskirts of Ongole town of Prakasam district.

It decided to organise ‘Mahanadu’ outside Ongole after the state government denied permission for conducting the event in Ongole mini-stadium.

The TDP alleged that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government deliberately delayed the allotment of the mini-stadium for holding ‘Mahanadu’ and finally rejected permission.

‘Mahanadu’ is organised every year in May, coinciding with the birth anniversary of party founder and former chief minister N. T. Rama Rao.

During the two-day deliberations, the party discusses the political situation and passes resolutions on a host of issues.

The annual conclave this year will focus on the prevailing ‘anarchic’ situation in Andhra Pradesh and its future.

TDP national president and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked the organising committees to focus on novelty and the party ideological commitments during the two-day event.

Over 5,000 delegates are expected to attend ‘Mahanadu’, which is being held in Ongole for the second time. The town had last hosted the event 15 years ago.

At the ‘Mahanadu’, Naidu is expected to urge the party cadres to be ready to face the elections whenever they are held.

He had called upon the party cadre on Tuesday to get ready for ‘early polls’ if announced ahead of the 2024 general elections.

“Advance elections are likely in the state ahead of 2024. Cadres and leaders should be prepared for this. We should get ready to face any challenge,” he said during a teleconference with party leaders.

The TDP chief said all sections of people were facing severe problems under the Jagan Reddy regime. In a difficult situation like this, they were looking at the TDP as a symbol of hope and a chance for their future.

Naidu said that a strong anti-government wave was sweeping all over against the YSRCP regime. The people were giving a warm reception to the TDP leaders during the ‘Badude Badudu’ campaign against increased taxes. On the other hand, the government faced public anger during its ‘Gadapa Gadapaku’ programme.

Chandrababu Naidu pointed out that the general public were coming forward and eagerly narrating their hardships to the TDP leaders. This was a clear indication of the huge anti-government sentiment. The TDP re-emerged as a pillar of assurance for the future of the state, he said.

The TDP chief shared his experiences and huge response during his visits to the districts as part of ‘Badude Badudu’ campaign. The unpopularity of the YSRCP rule was evident among all sections and in all regions of the state. The Jagan regime is facing a very severe resentment, he added.

Naidu asserted that the TDP leaders at all levels should move closer to the people. The TDP cadres and leaders should be prepared to meet any challenge.

Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with party mandal and village committees to review ‘Badude Badudu’, party membership drive, voter verification and ‘Mahanadu’ arrangements. He asked the party leaders to visit every household in their areas. All sections were welcoming the TDP leaders and pouring out their woes because of the wrong policies in the past three years.

The TDP completed its 40 years in March this year. It was on March 29, 1982 that N. T. Rama Rao, a popular Telugu actor, formed the TDP on the slogan of Telugu self-respect.

NTR, as he was popularly called, created a record of sorts by coming to power within nine months of forming the party.

He died in January 1996, a few months after his son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu led a revolt against him to become the chief minister of then undivided Andhra Pradesh. Naidu led TDP to power in 1999 and remained chief minister till 2004, when Congress wrested the power.

After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, TDP formed the first government in the residuary state. In 2019, the party lost power to YSRCP led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

National

CM Nitish meets Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, discusses key issues

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Patna, July 3: Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan on Thursday, and reportedly discussed key issues.

CM Nitish reached Raj Bhavan around 11 a.m., and the meeting lasted for about 30 minutes, during which several important administrative issues were discussed.

According to sources, the meeting primarily focused on the appointments of Vice Chancellors in universities across Bihar.

“This meeting was not political but related to higher education and the appointment of Vice Chancellors and other officials in the state’s universities,” sources said.

The Bihar government, ahead of the Assembly elections, is working to resolve issues across departments, including Higher Education, ensuring timely appointments, fund releases, and smooth educational activities.

The appointment of Vice Chancellors is considered crucial to avoid administrative bottlenecks during the election period.

Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in October-November this year, and the Election Commission of India may announce the schedule soon.

Before the elections, the Nitish Kumar-led government is keen to clear pending administrative issues to ensure smoother governance and to prevent disruptions in universities during the election season.

Several universities in Bihar are awaiting appointments and transfers of Vice Chancellors, registrars, examination controllers and other officials. The Governor, as Chancellor of state universities, along with the Chief Minister, play a key role in these appointments.

Arif Mohammad Khan took charge as the Governor of Bihar in 2025 after serving as the Governor of Kerala from 2022 to 2025.

A senior politician, Khan has previously held important positions in the Central government as a BJP leader.

This meeting holds significance as the state gears up for elections, with the government looking keen to complete critical institutional appointments before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect.

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Maharashtra

Opposition protests against the government for declaring Wari as urban Naxal

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Mumbai: On the fourth day in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the opposition created a ruckus over declaring Wari as urban Naxal and has made serious allegations against the government of insulting Wari. On the fourth day of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the opposition has made several serious allegations against the ministers of the government while protesting on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan. The ministers included in the cabinet of the state government are misusing their powers and occupying government lands in the state.

Just as the ruling front is trying to defame the holy pilgrimage of Hinduism, Wari, by calling Vitthurai and Warkars urban Naxalites and urban Maoists, in the same way it is insulting Wari Palkhi. This is reprehensible. Members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a strong protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan against the ruling front and accused the government of insulting Wari. In this demonstration, the members also raised slogans cursing the government and said that due to the scamster government, farmers are dying of hunger and the ministers are calling the laborers urban Naxalites. Shiv Sena leader of opposition Ambadas Danve, Vijay Varditwar, Sachin Ahir, Jitendra Ahawat etc. participated in this protest.

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National

AAP’s decision to go solo in Bihar polls draws ‘publicity stunt’ jibe from INDIA bloc ally

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New Delhi, July 3: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement of contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections alone has invited a slew of reactions from political parties. Various parties, its ally or adversary, reacted on expected lines; however, the harshest one came from the Congress party, its erstwhile alliance partner in the INDIA bloc.

From JD(U) to Congress and others, all elicited a common view that AAP remains a non-player in the Bihar electoral landscape and its political plunge will have no impact on the power equations there.

JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan said that AAP’s decision to contest all 243 seats in Bihar shows clear and deep cracks in the INDIA bloc.

“This alliance is already in ruins and is now headed for further decline, as Kejriwal has himself said that the INDIA bloc was formed for the 2024 elections,” he said.

He added that AAP’s foray into the Bihar arena will have a bearing on the INDIA bloc partners, including RJD, as Tejashwi Yadav and his party will find it difficult to rally support.

Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh said this looks nothing more than a ‘publicity stunt’.

“AAP has no presence in Bihar, people don’t even know Kejriwal’s party name. By such announcements, he is trying to stay in the news. Kejriwal may be known to people here, but his party is non-existent in Bihar, he said.

Another Congress leader, Tariq Anwar, said AAP was welcome to contest elections in Bihar but warned of more backlash than support.

“Every party is independent to contest elections as per its own choice. AAP can also decide its fortunes in upcoming elections, but it is a fact that AAP has no base in Bihar, it has no elected representative in Bihar, even at the panchayat level,” he said.

“Deciding to take a political plunge in such a situation could incur more losses than benefits,” he added.

Notably, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, addressing a press conference in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar on Thursday, said, “AAP will contest Bihar polls alone. The INDIA bloc was only for the Lok Sabha polls; there is no alliance with Congress now.”

When probed further, he said, “If there was any alliance, then why did Congress contest in Visavadar bypolls. They came to defeat us. BJP sent Congress to defeat us and cut the votes.”

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