Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Monday morning offered prayers to Lord Kalabhairaveswara Swami, the village deity at Seelamvaripalle hamlet of Gurramkonda mandal in the district, amid speculation that he was seeking divine blessings for floating a new political party.
The idol consecrated under a giant banyan tree is believed to be over 300 years old. Locals believe that if anybody worships Kalabhairaveswara under this tree, his or her wish would be fulfilled immediately.
It was Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy's maiden visit to the deity as the Chief Minister, though he had earlier offered prayers here during the election campaigns in 2004 and 2009, after which he got elevated as the chief whip and Assembly Speaker respectively. Mr Reddy’s latest visit assumed significance with the general elections round the corner. His followers observed that Kiran had sought the blessings of the deity to scuttle the move to bifurcate the State and the visit was also seen as a thanksgiving.
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However, the villagers believe that the Chief Minister would not have arrived there had he not cherished some strong ambition. A section of the Congress leaders owing allegiance to him ruled out the possibility of floating a new party, with only a few months ahead of elections.
Villagers thronged the banyan tree and greeted Mr Reddy on his completing three years in the office as the Chief Minister.