Protests rock Palnadu

Two supporters of Janga try to ‘commit suicide’

Mallikarjuna Rao’s followers raise banner of revolt

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GUNTUR: Widespread protests across Palnadu region and victory rallies in Guntur capped a day of dramatic developments, hours after the list of Congress Assembly candidates was announced on Saturday. Local elected representatives of Gurazala, Macherla and Vindukonda threatened to resign en masse, protesting against the denial of seats to the sitting MLAs.

In view of the possibilities of escalating tension, Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha convened a meeting with senior police officers and asked them to be vigilant. Police battalions were deployed in full strength at main junctions in the towns and municipalities to prevent untoward incidents in the district.

In Guntur, a defiant Gurazala MLA Janga Krishna Murthy vowed to continue his fast in front of the District Congress Party office till the last day of filing of nominations. His close aides, including Piduguralla Market Yard chairman P. Viswanadham and veteran leader Challa Nemali Reddy, left for Hyderabad to hold talks with K.V.P Rama Chandra Rao, after the latter spoke to them over telephone.

Two supporters of Mr. Krishna Murthy climbed atop a light arch at the Hindu College Junction and allegedly threatened to commit suicide.

They relented after some time and were whisked away by the police.

Scores of his supporters from the Gurazala constituency began to pour into the Congress office since morning. The news of the final list beamed on TVs sent shock waves across the district among party cadre.

The MLA soon after realising his name was not in the final list, remained closeted with his aides for an hour.

He, however, remained evasive to queries about his possible quitting of the Congress or contesting as a rebel candidate.

In Vinukonda, followers of Makkena Mallikarjuna Rao raised the banner of revolt and threatened that they would not allow an outsider to file his nomination papers. Addressing a media conference, Mr. Mallikarjuna Rao said that he was disappointed over the rejection of his candidature.

In Macherla, supporters of sitting MLA Pinneli Laxma Reddy threatened to resign from their elected posts

Contrary to the dramatic developments in the Palnadu region, Guntur remained by and large peaceful as there were no protests from the followers of T. Venkata Rao and Sk. Nambur Subhani, the sitting MLAs of Guntur I and II. Supporters of Sk. Mastan Vali, the candidate from Guntur East, took out victory rallies and burst crackers.

Youth Congress chief quits

Peeved over denial of Assembly ticket in the general elections, Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress president T.J. Sudhakar Babu has tendered resignation to the party post.

Hours after the high command announced the list of candidates for Lok Sabha and Parliamentary constituencies, Mr. Sudhakar Babu, who failed to get the party ticket from Prathipadu (SC) constituency in Guntur district announced his decision to quit the party post. He lamented that the party had not honoured its promise to field more Youth Congress office-bearers.

He said a number of Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress office-bearers would resign protesting the injustice to them.

He is likely to meet Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and apprise him of his decision to resign.

YSR to hit campaign trail on March 25

The Congress party will get into the poll campaign mode from March 25, as Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy hits the road by formally launching his ‘Jaithra Yatra’ from Chevella Assembly constituency.

A day after he raised the battle cry beating a huge drum to symbolically launch party’s campaign, his close aides have come out with a road map for next three weeks that will see Dr. Reddy criss-cross the State holding road shows and use helicopter sparingly.

Respecting sentiment of launching his campaign from Chevella since padayatra days, sharp at 11 a.m. on March 25, he will board his trademark bullet proof air-conditioned bus from Chevella constituency, represented by Mines and Geology Minister P. Sabitha Reddy. On the first day, he will travel 115 km addressing meetings in Vikarabad, Parigi, Kodangal, and Tandur constituencies before halting for the night at Zaheerabad.

The next day, he would cover Sangareddy, Andole, Narayankhed and Narsapur and return to the city in the night. On March 27, Dr. Reddy will tour Khairatabad, L.B.Nagar and Musheerabad Assembly constituencies. On March 28 and 29, he will cover Mahabubnagar and Warangal districts by helicopter.

Praja Rajyam a product of Opposition’s failure: YSR

Lack of credibility, poor show by TDP and other parties created new political space in State, says Chief Minister


Lack of credibility and poor show by the Opposition, especially the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had created new political space and resulted in the emergence of Praja Rajyam, according to Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Redddy.

Harping on “effective governance that brought credibility to the government’s welfare schemes and development programmes over the last five years,” Dr. Reddy said at a press conference here on Saturday that little or no anti-establishment mood among the electorate was providing the necessary confidence to the Congress to face the elections.

“Division of anti-Congress vote and fulfilment of the promises made by us will be the key to our handsome victory in the elections,” Dr. Reddy remarked.

Singling out the TDP for its “political bankruptcy” on various issues, Dr. Reddy said it was a strange phenomenon that its president N. Chandrababu Naidu was making promises while his brother-in-law Nandamuri Balakrishna and nephew NTR Jr. were going around the State taking the responsibility to fulfil them. “This only shows how Mr. Naidu’s credibility has eroded in the last five years,” he noted.

Dissimilar ideologies

The Chief Minister ridiculed the Grand Alliance for dissimilar ideologies among its constituents. The TRS and the CPI (M) had diametrically opposite views on separate Telangana. “Can we expect such an alliance to function in unison and take on the Congress?” he asked.

The alliance could not even hold a joint public meeting in the city and yet had vowed to bring down the Congress, Dr. Reddy quipped.

On Telangana, he said the party in principle had no objection on creating a separate State, but some issues had to be resolved. He dismissed the talk that presence of film stars of other parties would impact Congress chances. “When film stars campaign, it is a free show,” he remarked.

‘Congress, TDP misleading people’

Charging Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu with indulging in “match-fixing”, Praja Rajyam party president K. Chiranjeevi said the two leaders, good friends in the past, were trying to cheat people for keeping the reins of power between themselves.

He alleged that the two leaders, who criticised each other throughout the day became “good friends by night”. All that they had in common was “corruption”, although of different magnitudes. Their ‘close association’ was evident from the way the successive governments suppressed the reports of inquiries instituted against each other.

“Mr. Naidu went a step ahead to gift a power plant to Dr. Reddy for withdrawing cases filed against him and the latter, on his part, did not make public reports of various inquiries ordered against the TDP president,” he said pointing out that the two governments which encouraged Satyam and Maytas “distanced the firms within no time” leaving their chairman in jail.

He was addressing a massive public meeting, ‘Praja Vijaya Bheri’ here on Saturday to mark the formal launch of his party’s election campaign in Telangana. He reiterated his party’s commitment to conduct inquiries against ‘corrupt practices’ of the duo and put all facts in public domain after coming to power. “Politics has become an avocation for the leaders to earn money and PR is committed to end it,” he said, amid lusty cheers from the audience. Former Minister and senior TDP leader Kothapalli Subbarayudu formally joined the Praja Rajyam on Saturday.

Mr. Chiranjeevi also attacked the Congress and TDP for misleading people, particularly the weaker sections, with “false claims”. While both promised to give at least 100 seats to BCs ever since PR came out with social justice as its main plank, the Congress accommodated 86 BC candidates and the TDP 66 in their candidates lists for the forthcoming elections.

He said neither Dr. Reddy nor Mr. Naidu could find a suitable BC from their native districts Kadapa and Chittoor who could be fielded for the elections.

Vehemently criticising the TDP-led Grand Alliance, he said the parties that did not had any ideological similarities nor a common goal joined hands ‘just for the sake of power’.

This was evident from the fact that no party in the alliance was prepared to include separate Telangana in their common manifesto.

TDP’s promises like provision of colour televisions free of cost and cash transfer scheme in particular were “solely” aimed at seeking votes rather than addressing the needs and aspirations of the people.

Congress Assembly candidates

The following is the list of Congress candidates for the Assembly:

Sirpur– Koneru Konappa, Chennur (SC)– G .Vinod, Bellampally (SC)– Chillumula Shankar, Mancherial– N. Diwakar Rao, Asifabad (ST) – Athram Sakku, Khanapur (ST) Hari Ajmeeri Naik, Adilabad – C. Ramachandar Reddy, Boath (ST) – Anil Jadav, Nirmal – A. Indrakaran Reddy, Mudhole – Narayan Rao Patil, Armur – K.R.Suresh Reddy, Bodhan – P. Sudarshan Reddy, Jukkal (SC) – S. Savithri Gangaram, Banswada – Bajireddy Govardhan, Yellareddy – B. Janardhan Goud, Kamareddy– Mohd. Ali Shabbir, Nizamabad (Urban) – D. Srinivas, Nizamabad (Rural) – Akula Lalitha, Balkonda – Srinivas Reddy, Korutla – J. Rathnakar Rao, Jagtial – T. Jeevan Reddy, Dharmapuri (SC) – A. Laxman Kumar, Ramagundam – Baber Salim Pasha, Manthani – D. Sridhar Babu, Peddapalle – G. Mukunda Reddy, Karimnagar – Ch. Laxman Rao, Choppadandi (SC) – G. Babu Rao, Vemulawada – V. Adi Srinivas, Sircilla – Gudla Manjula, Manakondur (SC) – Arepalli Mohan, Huzurabad – Krishna Mohan, Husnabad –A. Praveen Reddy, Siddipet – Anjaiah, Medak – P. Shashidar Reddy, Narayankhed – P. Kista Reddy, Andole (SC) – C. Damodhar Rajanarsimha, Narsapur – Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Zahirabad (SC) – J. Geeta Reddy, Sangareddy – T. Jayaprakash Reddy, Patancheru – Nandishwar Goud, Gajwel – T. Narsa Reddy, Medchal – K. Laxma Reddy, Malkajgiri – Akula Rajender, Quthbullapur – K.M. Pratap, Kukatpally – V. Narsing Rao, Uppal – Raji Reddy, Ibrahimpatnam – M. Ranga Reddy, Lal Bahadur Nagar – D. Sudhir Reddy, Maheshwaram – Sabitha Indra Reddy.

Rajendranagar – Ghaneshwar Mudiraj, Serilingampally – Bhikshapathi Yadav, Chevella (SC) Kale Yadaiah, Pargi – K. Ram Reddy, Vicarabad (SC) G. Prasad Kumar, Tandur – M. Ramesh, Musheerabad – T. Manemma, Malakpet – V.N.Reddy, Amberpet – Fareeduddin, Khairatabad – Danam Nagender, Jubilee Hills – P. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Sanath Nagar – M. Shashidhar Reddy, Nampalli – E. Vinod Kumar, Karwan – Roop Singh, Goshamahal – Mukesh Goud, Charminar – Gajula Anjiah, Chandrayangutta – Venkatesh Mudiraj, Yakutpura – G. Rajaratnam, Bahdurpura – Raza Hussain Azad, Secunderabad – Jayasudha, Secunderabad Cantt. (SC) – Dr. P. Shankar Rao, Kodangal – Gurunath Reddy, Narayanpet – Sugurappa, Mahbubnagar – Puli Veeranna, Jadcherla – Dr. Ravi Mallu, Devarkadra – Swarna Sudhakar, Makthal – C. Rammohan Reddy, Wanaparthy – G. Chinna Reddy, Gadwal – D. K. Aruna, Alampur (SC) – Sampath Kumar, Nagarkurnool – Dr. Damodar Reddy, Achampet (SC) – Vamshi Krishna, Kalwakurthy – Y. Kista Reddy, Shadnagar – Pradeep Reddy, Kollapur – J. Krishna Rao, Devarakonda (ST) – Balu Naik, Nagarjuna Sagar – K. Jana Reddy, Huzurnagar – Uttam Kumar Reddy, Kodad – Mohammad Jani, Suryapet – Damodar Reddy, Nalgonda – Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Munugode – Govardhan Reddy, Bhongir – Venkateshwar Reddy, Nakrekal (SC) – Tirumathi Lingaiah, Thungathurthy (SC) – Gudipti Narsaiah, Alair – Bikshapathi Goud, Jangoan – Ponnala Lakshmiah, Ghanpur (Station) SC) – Dr. T. Rajaiah, Palakurthi – Duggyala Srinivas Rao, Dornakal (ST)– D.S.Redya Naik, Mahabubabad (ST) – Malloth Kavitha, Narsampet – Madhav Reddy, Parkal – Konda Surekha, Warangal West – Daya Sagar, Warangal East – Baswaraj Saraiah, Wardhanapet (SC) – K. Sridhar, Bhupalapalle – G. Ramana Reddy, Mulug (ST) P. Veeraiah, Pinapaka (ST) – Kanta Rao, Yellandu (ST) Koram Kanakiah, Palair – Venkata Reddy, Madira (SC) – Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Wyra (ST) – Dr. Bukya Ramchandraiah.

Sathupalli (SC) – Sambani Chandrashekar, Kothagudem – Vanama Venkateshwar Rao, Aswaraopeta (ST) – Mitra Sen, Bhadrachalam (ST) – Kunju Satyavathi, Ichchapuram – Narhu Ramarao, Palasa – Jetti Jagan Nayakulu, Tekkali – Revathi Pathi, Pathapatnam – Vijaya Rama Raju, Srikakulam – Dharmana Prasada Rao, Amadalavalasa – Boddepalli Satyavati, Etcherla – Neelakantam, Narsannapeta – Dharmana Krishna Das, Rajam (SC) – Kondru Murali Mohan, Palakonda (ST) – Nimmakku Sugrivulu, Kurupam (ST) – Janardhan Tanti Raju, Parvathipuram (SC) – Savarapu Jayamani, Salur (ST) – P. Rajanna Dora, Bobbili – R.V.S.K. Ranga Rao, Cheepurupalle – Botcha Satyanarayana, Gajapathinagaram – Botcha Appala Narsaiah, Nellimerla – Dr. P.V. Suryanarayana Raju, Vizianagaram – K. Veerabhadra Swamy, Srungavarapukota – Raghu Raj, Bhimli – Uma Rani, Visakhapatnam East – V. Appa Rao, Visakhapatnam South – Dronamraju Srinivas, Visakhapatnam North – T. Vijaya Kumar, Visakhapatnam West – M. Vijaya Prasad, Gajuwaka – Gurumurthy Reddy, Chodavaram – Karanam Dharmasri, Madugula – A.V. Ramamurthy Naidu, Araku Valley (ST) – Kantamma, Paderu (ST) – P. Balaraju, Anakapalle – Konathala Ramakrishna, Pendurthi – T. Vijaya Laxmi, Elamanchili – U. Venkata Ramana Raju, Payakaraopet (SC) – G. Babu Rao, Narsipatnam – Muthyala Papa, Tuni – Raja Ashok Babu, Prathipadu – V. Subba Rao, Pithapuram – M. Padmanabham, Kakinada Rural – Dommithi Venkateswarlu, Peddapuram – T. Gopalakrishna, Anaparthy – Sesha Reddy, Kakinada city – Chandrasekhar Reddy, Ramachandrapuram – P. Subhashchan- dra Bose, Mummidivaram – P. Satish Kumar, Amalapuram (SC) – P. Viswaroop, Razole (SC) – Rapaka Vara Prasad, Gannavaram (SC) – Pamala Rajeswari Devi, Kothapeta – Ch. Jaggi Reddy, Mandapeta – B. Krishnarjuna Chowdary. Rajanagaram – Chitturi Ravindra, Rajahmundry City – R. Suryaprakash Rao, Jaggampeta – Thota Narasimham, Rampachodavaram (ST) – K.K.V.V.V. Satyanarayana Reddy, Kovvur (SC) – Mohsen Raja, Nidadavole – G. Srinivasu Naidu, Achanta – Pathani Satyanarayana, Palacole – Bangaru Usha Rani, Narasapuram – M. Prasada Raju, Bhimavaram – P. Ramanjaneyulu, Undi – P. Sarraju, Tanku – K. Nageswara Rao, Tadepalligudem – K. Satyanarayana, Unguturu – V. Vasantha Kumar, Denduluru – Kottari Ramachandra Rao, Eluru – A.K. Srinivas, Gopalapuram (SC) – Usha Madiga, Polavaram (ST) – T. Balaraju, Chintalapudi (SC) – M. Rajesh Kumar, Tiruvuru (SC) – Dirisam Padmajothi, Nuzvid – M. Venkata Pratap Appa Rao, Gannavaram – M. Venkateswara Rao,Gudivada – P. Venkateswara Rao, Kaikalur – Y. Raja Ramchander, Pedana – Jogi Ramesh Goud, Machilipatnam – Perni Venkataramiah, Avanigadda– Mandali Buddha Prasad, Pamarru (SC)– D. Y. Das, Penamaluru– K. P. Sarathy, Vijayawada West– Mallika Begum, Vijayawada Central – Malladi Vishnu, Vijayawada East– Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru, Mylavaram– Appasami Sandeep Nannu, Nandigama (SC)– V. Parameshwar Rao, Jaggayapeta– S. Udayabhanu, Pedakurapadu– Patan Noorjahan, Tadikonda (SC)– D. Manikya Vara Prasada Rao, Mangalagiri– Kandru Kamala, Ponnur– Leeladhar, Vemuru (SC)– M. Nagarjuna, Repalle– M. Venkatramana Rao, Tenali– Nadendla Manohar, Bapatla– Gade Venkat Reddy, Parthipadu (SC)– Sucharita, Guntur West – Kanna Lakshminarayana, Guntur East–MastanVali, Chilakaluripet– M. Rajashekhar, Narasaraopet– K. Venkata Krishna Reddy, Sattenapalli– Y. Venkateswara Reddy, Vinukonda– Chebrolu Narandranath, Guruzala– Dr. Alla Venkateswarlu, Macherla– P. Ramakrishna Reddy, Yerragondapalem (SC)– A. Suresh Kumar, Darsi– Dr. B. Siva Prasad Reddy, Parchur– Dr. Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, Addanki– G. Ravi Kumar, Chirala– Krishna Mohan, Santhanuthalapadu (SC)– Danam Vijay Kumar, Ongole– B. Srinivasa Reddy, Kandukur– M. Maheedar Reddy, Kondepi (SC)– G. V. Seshu, Markapuram– K. Pedda Konda Reddy, Giddalur – B. Chandrashekar Yadav, Kanigiri – Ugra Narsimha Reddy, Kavali – Vishnuvardhan Reddy. Atmakur – Anam Rama Narayana Reddy, Kovur – P. Srinivasulu Reddy, Nellore City – B. Anil Kumar Yadav, Nellore Rural – A. Vivekananda Reddy, Sarvepalli – Adala Prabhakar Reddy, Gudur (SC) – Panabaka Krishnaiah, Sullurpeta (SC) – Vinnamala Saraswati, Venkatagiri – N. Rajya Lakshmi, Udayagiri – M. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, Badvel (SC) – Kamalamma, Rajampet – Amarnath Reddy, Kadapa – Mohd. Ahamadullah, Kodur (SC) – K. Srinivasulu, Rayachoti – Srikanth Reddy, Pulivendula – Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, Kamalapuram – G. Veerashiva Reddy, Jammalamadugu – C. Adinarayana Reddy, Proddatur – N. Varadarajula Reddy, Mydukur – D.L. Ravindra Reddy, Allagadda – G. Pratap Reddy, Srisailam – E. Pratap Reddy, Nandikotkur (SC) – L. Venkatswamy, Kurnool – T.G. Venkatesh, Panyam – K. Rambhupal Reddy, Nandyal – C. Shilpa Mohan Reddy, Banaganapalle – Challa Rama Krishna Reddy, Dhone – Kotla Sujathamma, Pattikonda – S.V.Mohan Reddy, Kodumur (SC) – P. Murali Krishna, Yemmiganur – K. Channakeshava Reddy, Mantralayam – Madhusudhan, Adoni – Y. Sai Prasad Reddy, Alur – Neeraja Reddy, Rayadurg – R. Ramachandra Reddy, Uravakonda – Visveshwar Reddy, Guntakal – Madhusudan Gupta, Tadipatri – J.C.Diwakar Reddy, Singanamala (SC)– Sailajanath, Anantapur Urban – Gurunath Reddy, Kalyandurg – N. Raghuveera Reddy, Raptadu – T. Prakash Reddy, Madakasira (SC) K. Sudhakar, Hindupur – Lakshmi Narayana, Penukonda – K.T.Sridhar, Puttaparthi – K. Mohan Reddy, Dharmavaram – K. Venkatrama Reddy, Kadiri – J. Ramaiah, Thamballapalle – G. Shankar Yadav , Pileru – N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Madanapalle – Shahjahan Basha, Punganur – P. Ramachandra Reddy, Chandragiri – Galla Aruna Kumari, Tirupati – Karunakar Reddy, Srikalahasti – S.C.V. Naidu, Satyaveedu (SC) – K. Narayana Swamy, Nagari – R. Chenga Reddy, Gangadhara Nellore (SC) – T. Doraiswamy, Chittoor – C.K. Babu, Puthalapattu (SC) – Dr. P. Ravi, Palamaner – D. Reddappa Reddy, Kuppam – M. Subramanyam Reddy.

This is the best list: D. Srinivas

Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas has said his party struck a perfect balance in the party list of candidates to contest the Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections by giving priority to all sections of the society. “This is the best list and prepared by observing the social justice. Backward Classes were given more than 70 seats,” said Mr. Srinivas here after the release of the list of candidates, on Saturday evening. He said 11 to 12 seats were given to minorities, four each were allotted to Madigas and Malas in the Parliament and almost an equal number of seats to both sections in the Assembly. Women were given a top priority, he added.

As there were many sitting members, the party could not accommodate several aspirants.

Redeem Telugu pride, NTR Jr. tells people

Junior NTR called upon the people to redeem Telugu pride by bringing TDP to power in the coming general elections. The TDP’s victory would also spell the end of misrule of Congress which did nothing except filling its coffers.

Speaking at a roadshow at Sarpavaram Junction in Kakinada on Friday, Mr. NTR said TDP was the best bet for people who wanted welfare and good governance and exhorted them to teach a lesson to the ruling dispensation which never cared for their well-being. Unlike the Congress, TDP was committed to deliver its promises and people should give it a chance to do that.

The Congress party has failed on all fronts and no other party offered a credible alternative to it, which strengthens the case to elect TDP, he asserted and suggested to people to see the ground realities while casting their votes.

NTR Jr. lashes out at Chief Minister

Corruption affects development in the State, he says

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Only Naidu can steer State to growth

TDP will scrap the coastal corridor if voted to power

The Telugu Desam Party’s star campaigner N.T. Rama Rao junior described the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy as a modern Bhageeratha who flowed rivers of corruption and one who bequeathed the State’s wealth to businessmen.

The Congress party was mired in corruption because of which development took a backseat while even natural resources were plundered by the ‘ruling elite’, he observed.

Speaking in roadshows here on the temple town of Annavaram on Saturday, Mr. NTR junior has also suggested to the people to not cheat themselves by once again voting for the Congress party during whose regime the State had backtracked by 50 years. It would be equally perilous to believe in the change factor being advocated by Praja Rajyam party.

“Chandrababu Naidu is the only experienced driver who can safely steer the bus (Andhra Pradesh) to safety (growth)”, he asserted, while seeking the people’s mandate for the TDP.

Resuming his State-wide electioneering tour after the previous night halt at Payakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam district, Mr. NTR junior said farmers in East Godavari district were badly hit by government’s failure to ensure adequate supply of water to crops in Godavari delta, due to which crops in nearly five lakh acres have withered.

Government could neither prevent illegal impounding of Godavari river water by other States nor optimally utilise available water in irrigation systems like Yeleru reservoir.

TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao had got a statue of Sir Arthur Cotton installed on the Tank Bund at Hyderabad as a fond remembrance of the instrumental role played by him in the transformation of Godavari districts into India’s ‘Rice bowl’.

Cotton barrage had changed the entire landscape and brought about a Green revolution in the country. “Unfortunately, the same fertile region is craving for help today as the government had other priorities”.

Coastal Corridor

Mr. NTR junior further alleged that the government’s intention behind acquiring arable lands in the names of the Coastal Industrial Corridor and Special Economic Zones was to do real estate business.

The farming and fishing communities were the worst affected as their lands were forcibly taken over in advance without compensating them adequately.

If it comes to power, the TDP would scrap the coastal corridor.

TDP Polit Bureau member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, party district president N. Chinna Rajappa and former minister Chikkala Ramachandra Rao were among those present.