President Pranab Mukherjee’s arrival in the city unveiled a rare sight of the friends-turned-foes K. Chandrasekhar Rao and N. Chandrababu Naidu shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, perhaps for the first time in the recent years and not just after becoming Chief Ministers of the two States.
As video cameras whirred and flashguns popped continuously, the two Chief Ministers greeted each other, shook hands and Mr. Naidu had even patted his bête noire Chandrasekhar Rao in the presence of Governor E.S.L .Narasimhan. Though what transpired between the two arch-rivals is not known, it was indeed a rare sight. The camaraderie exhibited assumes significance in the backdrop of an almost-daggers-drawn situation between the two States on several contentious issues like fee reimbursement, Eamcet counselling, sharing of power, sharing of water, and a host of other issues.
Mr. Rao arrived first the Begumpet airport to receive the President. He was accompanied by many of Cabinet colleagues, MPs and MLAs of his party. The Governor arrived next. Chairmen of Legislative Councils of TS and AP K. Swamy Goud and A. Chakrapani were also there. As Mr. Naidu arrived at the venue, Mr. Rao welcomed and greeted him with a smile. He was ushered to the aisle and a smiling Mr. Naidu could be seen patting Mr. Rao on shoulder. Later, the duo walked to the Governor . The Governor was seen holding the hands of both Mr Rao and Mr Naidu for a while and there were guffaws all around.
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The two Chief Ministers were to meet last week when the Governor hosted an Iftar party, but Mr. Rao did not attend the dinner. Interestingly, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu had met the two Chief Ministers, separately in their camp offices, earlier in the day. It is believed that he tried for rapprochement between the two Chief Ministers.