For leaders of the Congress party in the Seemandhra region, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is now the Samaikyandhra mascot.
Following his point-blank remarks and assertive statements made at the press conference in Hyderabad on Friday evening, the Congress leaders of the region have started hailing him as a champion of Samaikyandhra and a ‘ray of hope’ that can prevent bifurcation from actually happening.
The newfound feel was very much palpable on Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s arrival at the Tirupati airport on Saturday afternoon by an Indian airlines flight.
Much against the fears that the Samaikyandhra agitators could sneak in and raise ‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ slogans against the government and especially the Chief Minister, the sloganeering turned out to be ‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ followed by ‘Jai Kiran Kumar Reddy’, much to the surprise of everyone.
Minister Galla Arunakumari, legislators C.K. Babu, G. Kuthuhalamma and P. Ravi, MLC R. Reddeppa Reddy, Chittoor DCCB president Amasa Rajasekhar Reddy, Central Tourism Director Surendra Reddy, Tirupati Coop Bank director P. Muralikrishna Reddy and PCC joint secretary P. Naveenkumar Reddy, who received him at the airport, congratulated him for his ‘bold stand’ taken in favour of Samaikyandhra.
Though the government employees (forming part of the Udyoga JAC) had ‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ badges pinned to their pockets as a symbol of their ongoing protest, they conveyed their wishes to the Chief Minister for taking a decisive and firm stand.
Earlier, Congress activist led by Mr. Naveen Kumar Reddy burst crackers, gave milk bath to Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy’s flexi banner and called it the reiteration of his commitment to the cause.
“The firm resolve expressed by him virtually eclipsed the ‘fake yatras’ taken out by the TDP and the YSRC parties with an eye on the Chief Minister’s seat,” he said.