The Hindu : Mahanadu off to colourful start

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Mahanadu off to colourful start

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL May 27. The Mahanadu here was off to a colourful start on Monday with a dance recital on "Orugallu vaibhavam'' to welcome the invitees. The dance, highlighting the cultural glory of Warangal, attracted a large number of people.

There were quite a few other sidelights to the Mahanadu on the first day as the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, released a bunch of baloons to mark the inauguration of the event. Mr. Naidu hoisted the party flag as a captive group of activists heard with rapt attention the "maa Telugu talli'' song, an invocation to `Telugu talli'.

Mr. Naidu earlier laid the foundation stone for a bypass road connecting Fatimanagar and Kakatiya University campus on arrival around 10 a.m. He then moved to the Kakatiya Pranganam, the venue of the Mahanadu, to hoist the flag and preside over the inaugural session.

The TDP president also inaugurated a photo exhibition displaying pictures of NTR as a thespian. The developmental and party programmes under Mr. Naidu's stewardship were also there in plenty.

After the welcome dance and resolutions moved to condole the deaths of the former Lok Sabha Speaker, G.M.C. Balayogi, and former Minister, Karanam Ramachandra Rao, the proceedings got under way as the district TDP chief, E. Dayakar Rao, explained the importance of the Mahanadu and invited Mr. Naidu to preside over the meeting.

Mr. Naidu spoke for one hour forty minutes and often appeared to be repetitive on many an issue. He mopped his brow several times and was also seen consuming water to beat the heat. What was surprising was the reluctance on the part of the security staff and other leaders around to switch on a fan as Mr. Naidu struggled but it was apparently avoided at the instructions Mr. Naidu, it was stated.

His voice turned hoarse and he faltered in his speech towards the end due to exertion. The Mahanadu arrangements came in for sharp criticism from invitees during the registration when several of them complained to Mr. Naidu how they were embarrassed. There were complaints galore at the lunch too with the turnout far exceeding the plans.

The town was painted yellow since morning with flags, buntings and banners of the TDP. If it was not for the strict regulation of traffic and restriction of entry only to delegates, the confusion would have been worse confounded near the venue.

The TDP Politburo member and General Secretary, R. Prakash Reddy, spoke and Anantapur MP, K. Srinivasulu, and senior leader, P. Manik Reddy, read the condolence messages. The Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, TDP Parliamentary leader, K. Yerran Naidu, Adilabad MP, S. Venugopalachary, Agriculture Minister, Vadde Sobhanadeeswara Rao, and Revenue Minister, P. Ashok Gajapati Raju, were among those who occupied the dais.

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