For Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the birthday celebrations of his grandson seem to be the top priority rather than launching a populist government programme.
The Naidu government recently announced launching of a highly ambitious housing scheme for weaker sections – construction of over five lakh two-bedroom houses.
The scheme, which appears to be a blind imitation of the scheme launched by the Telangana government, was supposed to be launched on April 8, coinciding with Ugadi festival, the Telugu New Year.
In fact, the scheme was christened as “Intinta Ugadi – Intiki Punadi” (Ugadi in every household and foundation for every house), as foundation laying ceremonies were supposed to be held simultaneously in all the constituencies by the MLAs and ministers.
However, Naidu surprised everybody by announcing the first birthday celebrations of his grandson Devansh (son of Lokesh and Brahmani) at his temporary residence at Vijayawada on Ugadi.
He started sending invitations to all the ministers, party leaders, celebrities and VIPs. Though date-wise, the birthday of Devansh was held a few days ago and Naidu even posted the pictures on the twitter, the actual birthday as per Hindu calender falls on Ugadi, the April 8.
Since Lokesh did not celebrate the first birthday of his son in a grand way, he wanted that it should be held on Ugadi.
When the invitations were being sent, officials reminded the Chief Minister that the foundation stone laying ceremony of the prestigious housing scheme was also fixed on the same day and he has to tour some constituencies as part of that.
Naidu told them clearly that he cannot postpone the birthday celebrations. So, he asked the officials to postpone the housing scheme launch to April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.
Now, let us see whether the scheme will be renamed after Ambedkar!
