CM extends mass contact programme till Feb 13

Realising that his latest mass contact programme-- Indiramma Baata-- has earned him brownie points with the Congress high command, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy decided to stretch it for a longer duration. As per the latest plan worked out by the Chief Minister's Office, Kiran Kumar will conduct the programme till February 2013, covering the remaining 18 districts in the state.

The Baata was launched in July as a political ploy. The Congress' drubbing in the by-elections in June also forced him to devise this programme while his camp managers wanted Kiran to build an image of his own by undertaking the Baata. Kiran so far toured East Godavari, Srikakulam, Khammam and West Godavari districts and is set to visit Kurnool from tomorrow. He spends three days in each district interacting with members of women Self-Help Groups, farmers besides Congress workers and also holds a district-level development review with officials and elected representatives. The Chief Minister sleeps in a government-run students hostel in a village and plays cricket and volleyball with the wards, besides having a community lunch or dinner. Reports from the districts suggest that the Indiramma Baata has not really been improving the Congress' political graph, but Kiran is said to be personally benefiting from it. On the one hand, he is able to escape from the pulls and pressures (from his detractors and lobbyists) in Hyderabad and on the other, impress the high command bosses in New Delhi.

When there was intense speculation late last month about Kiran's possible removal from the CM's post, an influential section of MPs from coastal Andhra region was said to have told the high command that he was striving hard to improve the government and the Congress' image by undertaking the Baata programme. That saved the day for Kiran, Congress sources pointed out. To keep up that image, the Chief Minister has decided to stretch the Baata to the maximum duration and keep the high command in good humour. Now, Kiran will spend nine days touring three districts every month and complete the first round of Baata by February 2013, sources in the Chief Minister's Office said. In September, the Chief Minister will complete the tour of Kurnool, Mahbubnagar and Krishna districts followed by Medak, Visakhapatnam and Prakasam next month, a CMO official said.

PTI