Now Andhra likes KCR

Hyderabad: Twenty-two months down the lane, there is a sea change in the perception of people of Andhra Pradesh towards Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. A random survey by Team Hans indicates that from a situation where they were not even willing to see his images in media, people are now appreciating the schemes launched by him particularly the two-bed room housing scheme.

Mogarala Nirmala, a tribal leader and an entrepreneur from Chittoor, said she used to hate KCR before division of the state but now she has changed her opinion. “It appears he is a good administrator,” she said. A tea stall owner Suryanarayana Reddy on Tirumala bypass road said though he had opposed KCR before bifurcation, he was now impressed about his performance as CM of Telangana.

“His schemes like double bedroom, regularisation of employees, improvement in power position and striking deal with Maharashtra on water sharing are appreciative,” he opined. C Reddappa Naidu, who runs a welding shop in Bairagipatteda, said after division of the state, his gesture towards AP, including attending Amaravati foundation function and his recent statement that he would like to have good relations with his bête noire Chandrababu Naidu are laudable.

P Gouri, a B Tech student in Chittoor, said: “As IT professional, I can simply say that KCR is superb in all respects. Several IT projects seem to be coming up in Hyderabad. IT professionals have good future there.” The opinion was no different in Vijayawada. Edukondalu, a waiter in a star hotel, was all praise for KCR as he had taken up the two bedroom housing scheme. On the contrary, the AP chief minister was removing the houses on river bund, he said.

M Susheela, a housewife when quizzed about KCR, said, “His promise of double bedroom houses for poor is very impressive.” A real estate dealer R Satish said when the state was divided everyone felt real estate business would crash and will not recover for at least ten years. But, KCR is trying to save the real estate business by developing the state and trying to develop infrastructure facilities.

Trader Afsar Basha felt that KCR was a good leader and has good vision for development of Telangana. He had successfully reduced the power problem in Hyderabad during the last one year. Chintalapudi Karuna Sagar, a resident of Ongole, said KCR has an advantage. He need not struggle for funds like Andhra Pradesh. However, a retired teacher Ch Venkat Reddy said that KCR has the advantage of becoming chief minister for a rich state.

But he continues to blame the Andhra leaders for everything and was still playing on sentiments which is not good. Battula Ramakotamma, a government employee, said that KCR has been able to take pro-employee and pro-people decisions. “The double bedroom houses, increments in salaries and other programmes had helped him to win over the employees and poorer sections. But what I don’t like is KCR establishing family rule,” he said.

V V Kameswara Rao, government teacher in Nellore, said KCR was implementing very good schemes like two bedroom houses, water missions and other progressive shemes. “He is a real hero and succeeded as a mass leader who fought for Telangana’s separate statehood. Though he is having opposition, he has been managing them in a dignified way,” he said.

But T Prabhakara Sastry, retired government employee, has a different view. “Though KCR achieved great success, he is announcing schemes that are practically not viable. He has to show his caliber with good implementation,” he said. Kunche Revant, an unemployed youth in Rajamahendravaram, said that he too had hated KCR during the agitation. But now he feels that KCR has proved his mettle as a good administrator. He is showing hope for the unemployed youth, he added.