After making the historic announcement on the capital city, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu arrived in Vijayawada on Friday, on his way to Guntur, to a tumultuous welcome by the denizens.
The touchdown at Gannavaram was a routine affair but what followed on the roads was unprecedented as hundreds of schools and college students with placards, flowers, banners and balloons lined up along the road to ‘thank” the Chief Minister.
Students of Dr. K.K.R. Gowtham International School (Gudavalli), Sri Chaitanya School and from institutions situated at Nidamanuru, Kesarapalli, Prasadampadu, Enikepadu and Ramavarapadu cheered the Chief Minister’s speeding convoy.
Mr. Naidu sportingly waved at them in reciprocation.
After crossing Ramavarapadu Ring, a beaming Mr. Naidu encountered another bunch of screaming students and people from all walks life at the bustling Benz Circle carrying a good number of ‘yellow’ balloons.
With his commandoes and city police literally on their toes, the Chief Minister had a first-hand experience of the people’s reaction after of his epoch-making decision on the floor of the Assembly in Thursday. Traffic at the Benz Circle went for a toss for a while.
In fact, Mr. Naidu was to attend a function to honour the best teachers of the State as part of the Teacher’s Day at Tummalapallivari Kalakshetram. As Nandigama by-election code was in force the authorities shifted the venue to Guntur.
“His (Naidu’s) decision went down well with the students’ community for they will get the best of institutes and companies within the capital city,” said Prem Anand, a lecturer.