Balaraju may avoid CM programme for 3rd time

• CM attending Rachabanda at Chodavaram today
• Ganta, Balaraju in a tug-of-war for upper hand
• Balaraju feels CM giving more importance to Ganta
• He twice kept off CM programmes earlier over this

Visakhapatnam: Rachabanda is the place in a village where issues and disputes are settled.

But at Friday’s Rachabanda programme at Chodavaram in the district, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy may have to settle an issue of a different sort – sorting out issues between two warring ministers. Of course, that is possible only if the aggrieved Minister for Tribal Welfare, P Balaraju, chooses to attend the programme. He kept away from the CM’s programmes on two occasions last month.

Balaraju is reportedly piqued that Kiran Reddy is giving more importance to Minister for Ports Ganta Srinivasa Rao, much junior to him, in the district. He apparently stayed away for this reason only when the CM arrived here en route to Srikakulam on October 20 and again ten days later to visit rain-affected areas in the district. Ganta was in prominence at both the programmes.

Balaraju had strongly resented any ill-treatment meted out to him in the past, even at the hands of senior ministers like Vatti Vasanth Kumar. But he never made it a big issue, and dismissed it as something done on the spur of the moment.

But with Ganta, the matter is quite different. Balaraju has to contend with him, almost on a daily basis for an upper hand in district politics. Balaraju feels that he is not being given due importance.

Chodavaram is at the mouth of the Visakha agency region to which Balaraju belongs. Ganta was elected to the Assembly from Chodavaram on TDP ticket in 2004, and still enjoys some following there. Therefore, Balaraju apprehends he would hardly be noticed as the focus would continue to be on Ganta. He is said to be planning to keep away from CM’s programme this time also – a third time in a span of five weeks.

Only a personal invitation from the Chief Minister may assuage his feelings. And if he attends, there is a likelihood of a rapprochement between the duo, provided the CM intervenes. But, if the CM does not bring them together, the war between them may continue till the elections, putting both the government and the Congress party at a disadvantage.