The Hindu : Kurnool MLA decides to take on KE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Kurnool MLA decides to take on KE

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL Jan. 7. The Kurnool MLA, T.G. Venkatesh, is bent upon starting the rival Cable TV network on January 26 to take on the KE family politically. The MLA is under the impression that by providing cable TV service at less price he could endear himself to people of Kurnool city and cash in on the dissatisfaction among people about the present Siticable network operated by the KE family.

Mr. Venkatesh who heads an empire of Rs. 600 crores, has interests in bulk chemicals manufacturing, power generation and the hotel industry. Starting a cable TV might not suit his business interests but the political compulsions forced him take the business route to take on the political rivals. He is planning to provide cable TV connection at Rs 50 per month as against Rs 170 being collected by the existing network in the city. Mr. Venkatesh proposed to invest Rs. 50 lakhs in the network.

Considering the huge capital back-up of Mr. Venkatesh, the KE family too is preparing for meeting the business challenge. They started replacing the existing network with optical fibre cable and planned to offer concessional rates once the MLA comes out with his package. The political rivalry will benefit the consumers in the form of slashed prices.

Mr. Venkatesh has been belligerent towards the KE family for quite some despite the crucial role played by the latter in the election of Mr. Venkatesh including selection of candidature. The friendship between Mr. Venkatesh and the KE family was short-lived. The differences came to the fore for the first time in the municipal standing committee elections where the MLA captured the entire house and got elected people of his choice. He won the support of Congress and BJP members too.

Skirmishes were going on between the two over construction of Shadikhana, SC community hall and other issues in the city. Recently, Mr. Venkatesh and Mr. K.E. Krishna Murthy (MP) differed over construction of bus shelter at E. Tandrapadu village. Mr. Krishna Murthy sanctioned the amount from the MPLADS for the shelter in the village, which was considered by Mr. Venkatesh an attempt to foray into his strongholds in order to weaken him politically. The construction was stopped by the intervention of the court.

Now, both have started washing dirty linen in public by making allegations and counter-allegations. Both had attacked the business houses of rivals by bringing to light the violations, irregularities and offences. The bellicose attitude of the two groups caused embarrassment to the party high command. However, the high command appears to have decided not to sideline the Mr. Venkatesh considering the clout he enjoys with the Vysya community. A minister from the district remarked that the leaders had to fight it out here and the high command was not interested in mediation.

Analysing the reasons for the gap between him and the KE family, Mr. Venkatesh has said he took on the KE brothers considering their political might with the sole intention of challenging their "overbearing attitude.'' "They wanted to act as big brothers of Kurnool city and I was made to suffocate,'' Mr. Venkatesh averred.

Mr. Venkatesh challenged either Mr. Krishna Murthy or his brother the Minor Irrigation minister, K.E. Prabhakar to resign and contest against him as independents from Kurnool. The MLA was responding to the criticism by the Minister, K.E. Prabhakar that Mr. Venkatesh was more interested in politicking than discharging his duties as MLA. Mr. Venkatesh said he was ready to resign the post and contest the election on either one of the KE brothers to prove his popularity with people.

Earlier, at a press conference, Mr. Prabhakar accused the MLA of indulging in irregularities in construction of buildings in the city by deviating from the master plan. He said he would initiate action on behalf of the Irrigation Department for the lapse to pay water cess for the water consumed by his factory.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Ministers' tirade against TRS chief

Free skin camps planned nationwide

Two TRS workers killed in road mishap

Police launch drive against white collar crimes

Kurnool MLA decides to take on KE

Hi-tech perversion