Akriti team pointed out to this opinion at Andhra Cafe, arguing about how Chiranjeevi is changing himself to fit in to Politics.  Akriti team replied in gut, what's the surprise? Is there anybody expecting Chiranjeevi, not to reveal his true intentions of greed for power in politics. 

In the initial meeting, Chiranjeevi explained he has certain principles on what he wanted to do in Politics. But as a party, Chiranjeevi is postponing all serious decisions that shall be made on pure principles, not based on how those decisions could help him in elections. Are principles based on Election results or he wanted to fight with principles in elections? Example, PRP is not expressing their stand on Separate Telangana, as they are trying to find out a STAND that could win them elections, not as a principle. If it had to be based on a principle, it should be just black and white. YES or NO.

As we analyzed earlier, whatever anyone, including Chiranjeevi says, the motivation behind coming into politics, we strongly believe, is 'POWER AND MONEY'.  Except LokSatta, which strongly refrain from MONEY in politics, every political party and politician out there for POWER AND MONEY. We haven't spotted any other politician, (except LokSatta), who really want to serve People and choose Politics as his/her vehicle.

Power and fame are strange bed fellows. They can change a person's character completely. Praja Rajyam party chief and Mega Star Chiranjeevi is a changed man. The change has been apparent after the launch of his party. The perception of Chiranjeevi has always been that of a humble and magnanimous star. But now all that is changing, he seems to be behaving in an upper hand manner and appears serious all the time within the party. Some say he is already acting as the CM. This has distanced the star from the common man is the perception in many political and analytical circles.

Source: Is This Chiranjeevi's True Color?

For all my life so far, I heard people move to Mumbai to live their dreams. And its quite intriguing to know that people are actually moving to Hyderabad , right from Maharastra itself, to live their dreams.

In the last couple of years, a number of young professionals have crossed over to Andhra Pradesh from Maharashtra to pursue their dreams in one of the biggest IT hubs of the country, Hyderabad. In fact, some are even investing in real estate with long term plans of settling down in the city.

Source: Hyderabad's cool quotient

Electricity has become a major issue for almost all parts of the state, even after buying Electricity from the grid spending crores of rupees every day.

This is the month of October and still official power cuts run into 10-12 hours in certain districts. If you talk to people that are living particularly in rural and urban areas, these power cuts run so much higher, that they only talk about number hours they may see Electricity.

Agriculture, the backbone of India, gets electricity for just around 4-7 hours a day. Can you really grow any crop with 4-5 hours a day?

(Source : News Article at Eenadu.com )

CPI, CPI(M) and TRS came to an understanding today to fight together in the upcoming elections.

(Picture: by Eenadu, http://eenadu.net/25pan6a.jpg )

TRS chief KCR confirmed the alliance after meeting with the CPI party secretary AB Bardhan in New Delhi.

Who Joins This Alliance? TDP? or PRP?

The big question on whether This alliance will work with TDP or PRP remains undecided. It appears that they want to wait for some more time to evaluate PRP influence in the coming elections before making a decision. TDP having declared its new stand to support 'seperate Telangana' leaving its traditional stand for Samaikhyandra (one Andhra Pradesh) opened its gates for alliance with TRS. However PRP hasn't declared a YES or NO yet.

Going by the insider reports from PRP, PRP may declare a YES very soon and may join the alliance. If PRP joins this alliance, TDP will have to face elections on its own, ALONE. Same goes with PRP if TDP joins the alliance.

PRP Leaders trying to woo the Alliance

Its been quite publicized about the relentless efforts of Allu Aravind to forge an alliance of PRP with CPI and CPI(M). However, it was reported that CPI and CPI(M) have been evaluating PRP's strength as a political machine to win the elections. 

 

To create awareness among the people on the rights of pedestrians, a city-based NGO ‘Right to Walk Foundation’ launched a ‘20k Signature Campaign’ on Friday. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to create a pedestrian-friendly city

Source: Right to Walk Foundation launches signature campaign

You can read more about the NGO and its activities at its website,  and stay updated with its blog.

If you are following Hyderabad Metro Rail works, here is an update on the project:

Six consortia were shortlisted for selection of independent engineer to oversee the Hyderabad Metro Rail works by the state government on Friday. The consortia are: AECOM (Hong Kong), Aarvee Associates (India) and Lahmayer International (Germany); DB International (Germany) and SMEC International (Australia); Louis Berger (USA) and RITES (India); Mott MacDonald (UK) and Tecnica (Italy); Net Engineering (Italy); and Scott Wilson Railways (UK) and EPC consultants (USA).

Source: Six consortia to bid for overseeing metro rail

Hyderabad US Consulate opened today at Paigah Palace.  The beautiful and historic Paigah Palace, built in the 1880’s will be the temporary home of the new U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad. 

US ambassador to India David C Mulford on Friday declared open the new consulate at Paigah Palace in the city by hoisting the Stars and Stripes in the presence of chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and other officials.

Addressing the gathering, Mulford said the new US consulate would begin issuing visas from mid-December. To being with, the consulate will issue about 100 visas a day which will be gradually increased to 300 by January next year.

Source: US consulate opens in city

So, are we saying 'Capaitalism' as the world knows doesn't work for India?  What happens if the business loose its revenue. Will government pay the dues?

With the sacking of nearly 1900 of its staff by Jet Airways turning into a political sensitive issue ahead of elections, a worried Congress today disapproved of the hire-and-fire policy and bluntly told the industry that "India is not America".

"Hire and fire is not a proper labour policy... Hiring them recklessly and then firing them recklessly is not proper. We do not approve this," Congress media department chief M Veerappa Moily told reporters in New Delhi

Source: No hire and fire, India is not America: Congress

Global Recession : Is It The Fall of Capitalism?

When I was discussing this quote by senior Congress leader with a journalist from Hyderabad, he did resonate with the thought. He questioned, the US Government bailing out is not different than what we normally see in a Communist or a Socialist regime. US Financial market blow exposes the fundamental limitations of Capitalism that we know of.

Just making 'profits' and 'hire and fire' policies of today's capitalism does not concern about National interests and doesn't fundamentally look for uplifting the nation. So a socialistic or capitalism with a better outlook and responsibility is the way to go.

In that sense, 'hire and fire' is bad for Developing country like India, as nation expects these corporates to assume some social responsibility to help the nation, not just their bottom lines.

Energy is vital to Andhra Pradesh. Land has become much more important, thanks to Real estate bubble all over the state. Then its not surprising people of Andhra Pradesh are fighting against allocation of land to setting up Power plants. Costal Corridor has been a prime example.

It will be interesting to see how people of Krishna district will react?

Even as the allotment of land in the coastal corridor to three private companies for starting thermal power plants is mired in controversy, the state government has directed the Krishna district collector to study the feasibility of allotment of 1,800 acres of land at Kona village near Machilipatnam to a Chennai-based company for setting up a power plant.

Chennai-based Falcon Projects Development wants to set up a power plant with a capacity of 1000 MW. The company wants 1,800 acres at Kona village, and the project will be completed by 2011-12.

Source: Land Allotment For Power Plant Under Govt Consideration

We all have so heavily depend on Calculators and Computers to do all calculations, including the most simplest ones. Its quite tough to beat the habit of looking for a nearby computer or calculator on the cell phone and start waking up those gray cells. So, its worth noting that kids of this generation actually beat those calculators instead of relying on them. Kudos.

The proficiency and speed for calculating faster than calculator has been achieved by 18 out of 8,000 kids from Andhra Pradesh enrolled for Abacus and Braindemy SDN BHD, Malaysia.

Source: 18 Andhra kids beat calculator (Indian Express)

Its great to see funding for R&D flows in from Foreign Universities to our Universities. The amount of R&D spent in local markets is quite bleak, this is such a wonderful news for universities.

Many universities in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh have become hubs for international collaboration in infrastructure development and research.

The universities from abroad have invested in universities in the state to develop academic research. At universities including Osmania University, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University and some Central government institutes including National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, the investments are for development of fundamental and applied research.

Source: AP, now, R&D hub for foreign varsities

Its elections season and every day we hear tons of criticism from each Political party, how  'ruling' party is such a failure and how a common man's life is getting so difficult.  Then each political party will say, 'if the come to power', they will solve every problem of the common man.

These days, if you ask Chiranjeevi or Chandra Babu Naidu about any problem of a common man, even before you finish your question they are ready with the answer. Everything will change once they come into power and those issues can only be solved if they come to power.

Everybody Promise, But None of them offer a Plan.

All Political party leaders are promising everything, but none of them are offering a solid plan on how they will solve an issue. And many a times, 'just the criticism alone' attract people attention and help them win in the elections. Not many really care how they can solve the issue.

Leaders Can't Criticize If  They Don't Have A Plan

If you go to a restaurant, you have full freedom and right to comment on the taste and quality of food. But if a Chef goes to a restaurant and criticize that the food is bad and Chef at that hotel doesn't know how to cook the food and he could prepare much better then it is not enough just to stop with that criticism. Chef must explain what went wrong with the food and show the plan, how he could make it much better. The chef can't keep on saying, make me your Chef I will show you the difference. It will be too late to prove on job.

The Lok Satta Difference

If you don't agree with me have a look at Lok Satta party and the literature it put out for the benefit of every learned citizen. Lok Satta has  clear cut principles and clearly spoken on how they would bring a change in the lives of common man. Lok Satta even call it the Second freedom struggle. They have a plan, they believe in strong values and they offer a solution to many problems.

Lok Satta in my view is a what a great Political party looks like. I pray that people see the value and vote for it. I strongly believe The leaders of Lok Satta are true leaders who just don't complain but offer a solution on how we can bring the change.

Next time, if you hear a complaint or allegation or criticism of how something doesn't work, from a Politician that promises you that he can change everything, ask him about the plan.

What do you think?

Every political party has been criticizing the ruling Congress party that the Government has failed to control Commodity prices and life of a common man  is becoming increasingly difficult.

Chandra Babu Naidu, the chief of TDP even went on to say the Government doesn't know how to control and he would have put everything in control had been a Chief Minister. PRP plays the same tune that it could make life of common man much easier irrespective of mammoth inflation hike and price hike, but did not offer anything on how it does either.

That brings to the key question, can really State Government control or at least influence the commodity price and inflation? Or its just an election gimmick every party that is not in power can play?

Share your views on this critical question.

We think, the answer is a YES to an extent. But it would be difficult to quantify the impact of  actions taken at a state level on commodity price and inflation that is calculated at National level. But since whatever is calculated at National level is total sum of all state contributions and each state's contribution matters. Particularly, the top tier states like Andhra Pradesh. However the most critical part of the answer is 'how quickly' a state government policy could alter the direction, assuming that the Government or opposition party figure out a way to change.

What do you think?

I was looking at this week's Time Magazine that attempt to unravel a sense of mystery behind how an American voter decide to vote.  There is a story of how science of survival infuse 'racism', portraits of 4 different types of voters and included an in depth review  of recent polls along with historical perspectives.

After reading all 4 featured sections, next thing I thought about it how much do we know about our own Andhra voters on how they vote and why they vote.

The POLITICAL Perspective to be launched on 1st Nov

While our new web portal, The POLITICAL Perspective (now in private beta, launching on 1st of November, marking the AP State Formation Day) is attempting to bring you up close with various statistics of previous elections, the amount of social and political research available is quite limited, that could explain how Andhra voters decide who to vote.

So, I tried to become myself a social scientist, quickly framed a few questions and sent to all my friends across the world (thanks to Google, that allow building online Forms so easy with Google Spreadsheets). And I am totally surprised by those responses. Most answers are overwhelmingly distributed while 'Caste' plays a very significant role in many decisions for most.

The First Portion of Questionaire

I will write more in detail about each question and responses as part of 'Prakriti' reports at  The POLITICAL Perspective, here is a quick summary:

1. What is ONE important thing you consider to decide who to vote?
   1. 69%  based on Chief Ministerial candidate
   2. 48% based on Party previous Performance
   3. 28% based on local MLA
   4. 12% based on Election Manifesto
2. 92% said, 'caste' is an important deciding factor in every aspect of the decision at both local and state level.
3. What is ONE important thing you think OTHERS consider while deciding who to vote?
   1. 54% based on local MLA
   2. 42% based on party
   3. 39% based on CM candidate
   4. 1% based on Election manifesto
4. What do you think that DECIDE a WIN or LOSS in an election at a Constituency level?
   1. 89% Money spent the night before election
   2. 64% Caste and Popularity of Local MLA
   3. 23% Election Campaign
5. What do you think that DECIDE a WIN or LOSS at a whole STATE level
   1. 94% Chief Ministerial Candidate
   2. 68% Anti-Incumbency Factor
   3. 59% News
6. Which Party do you think will WIN in 2009 Elections?
1. 68% TDP + TRS Alliance
2. 39% Praja Rajyam
3. 36% Congress

Why not Praja Rajyam?

I was quite surprised to see 'Praja Rajyam' second to TDP +TRS. I asked a few to clarify why they chose TDP+TRS rather than much talked about Chiranjeevi's party. No one did give me a convincing answer, but they said, the same reason why Praja Rajyam is desperately trying to get in alliance with somebody, like CPI(M), even after much hyped successful first week of campaign in north Andhra.

A better Perspective

The above results can be put in right perspective once I can share the demographics (age, caste, education, profession, location etc) of those people already responded.  As I mentioned earlier, I will include these details as part of the report that will be published on The POLITICAL Perspective.

What do you think?

If you read this far, I am pretty sure, you want to share your views on those questions.  While the survey will be open to all once the portal is ready, you can send your responses in email along with your age, caste(if you like to mention), education, profession and your location. Your email addresses will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone.

Send your responses to Prakriti at SwarnaAndhra01 dot com with subject line ' Why I vote'. As a matter of fact, we are super thrilled to know YOUR questions too, if you have to ask someone. We will post to the audience of The POLITICAL Perspective, once it goes live on 1st of November, 2008.

Indian Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan singh today decided to block Exit Polls, until the final vote is casted. The bill will be introduced in the next Parliamentary session to make it a law.

It is not clear, whether this restriction is applied only to Parliamentary elections or will apply to Assembly elections as well.

We are fast approaching our first deadline to unveil 'The Political Perspective', the ultimate political portal covering 'what matters' in politics of Andhra Pradesh.

We are pretty sure that many of you will love the application. It has been a quite journey working on this portal. We wanted to share few mistakes, or say things that worked for us and things that did not turn out good. Hope, they may help if you are currently developing a web application or planning on one.

NTR Family is getting ready to go behind Telugu Desam Party and bring a Win to Chandra Babu Naidu. The NTR Family of movie stars assembled with Fans associations to bring ACTION to the elections.

Will the movie magic works?

A resounding YES, looking at the crowds getting crazy at Chiranjeevi. But will the NTR Family fans accept Chandra Babu Naidu as the leader or force Bala Krishna to take an active role in Politics is still not unclear.  Many NTR fans believe, Chandra Babu Naidu back stabbed NTR and literally killed him.

Will they forget what happened in Viceroy hotel and heed to NTR family to vote to TDP?

Akriti team strongly believes that a new election coalition will be formed with TRS, TDP and CPI(M) to defeat Congress and any effect of Movie star led Praja Rajyam in the coming elections.

TDP is reportedly announce its position on Telangana very soon, that would in fact favor separate Telangana  to woo TRS and Telangana voters.

It was already categorically indicated that CPI(M) would like to work with TRS in the upcoming elections, if TDP could join the alliance, the coalition would be strong enough to improve its chances in the upcoming elections.

With strong caste based polarization happening in coastal andhra pradesh, all party lines are focussing on central and Telangana areas to put a brave face. Every party already acknowledged the importance of winning in these regions to fight Praja Rajyam.

Be it an Election frenzy or true intentions to uplift, the ruling Congress party has approved the first Nuclear Power plant for Andhra Pradesh. The Government has reportedly accepted the proposal by AP Gen Co. The site location most probably could be around Cuddapah, while Srikakulam is also under consideration.

More good news ..

Two more Ultra Thermal Power Station proposals by AP Gen Co have also been approved.  Combining this news with already under construction of  500MW extension to Vijayawada and another 4000MW coming off from the Reliance power plant at Krishnapatnam, the future looks much brighter for Andhra Pradesh in particular and whole country in general.

Why Last Minute Approvals ... could well be Elections !!

As readers of this blog note, all approvals for Power plants and land allocation for some, came within last 2 months. We suspect, looming elections could be a clear cut reason. Finalizing on proposals to go forward (at least looks like moving forward) would be a great addition to bolster the 'Growth' economy under Congress, the party would like to highlight.

If people really understand the impact and use their brains to vote, this could be a stealer.