BRS scouts office space in Vijayawada for Andhra Pradesh headquarters

To examine the land sites that were selected, Telangana minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav will reportedly visit Vijayawada on 18 and 19 December.

“We have selected three land sites in and around the Jakkampudi colony area to set up the BRS Andhra state office,” Vijayawada-based BRS leader Konijeti Adinarayana told South First.

“Telangana minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav is expected to visit Vijayawada shortly to finalise the site. As soon as he finalises the site, we will erect some temporary structures to begin some spade work of the party,” he added.

Adinarayana has been coordinating BRS works in Vijayawada. He added for Bhoomi Puja, the party would invite Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

He expressed confidence that KCR would accept the invite and participate in the Bhoomi Puja.

“We feel KCR’s presence will definitely build momentum for the BRS in Andhra Pradesh,” added Adinarayana.

Among the three land sites, one — admeasuring around 700 square yards on the road between Pipula Junction and Jakkampudi Colony Inner Ring Road — has been almost finalised. A nod from Srinivas Yadav is only a mere formality.

This site is strategically located so that it’s convenient to travel to Hyderabad on one side and to Gannavaram airport on the other side.

Who is Konijeti Adinarayana?

A construction bricks trader, Konijeti Adinarayana, a resident of Ajit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada, turned into an ardent follower of KCR with the formation of the Telangana state in 2014.

Despite the strong anti-Telangana sentiment in Andhra Pradesh, Adinrayana said he became a fan of KCR for his leadership skills, and that he admired him for the fight he had put up for a separate Telangana and how he transformed the state.

BRS/TRS sympathiser Konijeti Adinarayana with Telanana chief minister KCR (File photo)

“No doubt Andhra Pradesh has been divided against the wishes of the people in this part of the erstwhile combined state. The bifurcation is a reality now,” Adinarayana told South First in a tone of finality on the topic.

“I became an ardent admirer of KCR for his fighting spirit and leadership skills. When he launched a separate statehood movement, everyone ridiculed him and said it was an unachievable goal. But he fought vigorously and attained Telangana,” he noted.

“During the Telangana agitation, leaders like the then chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy spelt doom for Telangana citing severe shortage of power. But look at Hyderabad now: It has continuous power. He could also build the Kaleshwaram project,” he said.

“If we had a leader like KCR, who is a go-getter, Andhra Pradesh would have been in a better position now. It’s better late than never. At least now the Andhra public should support KCR in his national ambitions, which will also help Andhra Pradesh,” Adinrayana told South First.

Adinarayana in 2018 celebrated the TRS’ victory in the Assembly polls by breaking hundreds of coconuts at the famous hill shrine of Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada. He also distributed sweets in Vijayawada.

It is learnt that the BRS national headquarters will be inaugurated on 14 December.

“We may get some direction on the BRS activities and strategy in Andhra Pradesh during my visit to Delhi on 14 December,” said Adinrayana.

Huge billboard hails KCR

A huge billboard proclaiming “Jai Ho KCR” sprang a surprise in Viayawada.

Soon after the BRS was officially launched by KCR in Hyderabad after the ECI’s nod on Saturday, a big Flexi banner praising KCR appeared on MG Road in Vijayawada.

BRS billboard hailing Telangana chief minister KCR on MG Road in Vijayawada

Such hoarding appeared in parts of Vijayawada — welcoming the new “national” party to Andhra Pradesh — sprung up on 6 October as well, when KCR announced the BRS.

The new banner contains not only the slogan but also the pictures of KCR, TRS working president and Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao, Bandi Ramesh, and D Bhavan Kumar.

“A new era in the country’s politics began with the launch of the Bharata Rashtra Samithi.  An end to politics of vendetta and an assurance for development of Andhra Pradesh,” read the billboard.

It is learnt that the huge hoarding was put up by TRS state secretary and TRS Secunderabad Parliamentary Constituency in charge Bandi Ramesh, who originally belongs to the Bhatlapenumarru village in the Krishna district but was settled in Hyderabad.

A realtor, he joined politics with the Praja Rajyam Party, but later moved to the TDP before ending up with the TRS.

Sources in the BRS indicated that Ramesh was eyeing the BRS nomination from the Vijayawada Lok Sabha segment.