Bhutto among 10 women most admired by Americans

New York(IANS) Benazir Bhutto figured among the 10 women most admired by Americans in a survey conducted by USA Today newspaper and Gallup polling agency.

The slain Pakistani leader, who had studied at Harvard, made it to the list for the first time, chosen by two percent of over 1,000 respondents in the annual poll conducted earlier this month.

The list was topped by US Senator Hillary Clinton, who narrowly beat television celebrity Oprah Winfrey. Clinton, who is the front-running Democratic party candidate, was chosen by 18 percent of Americans. Winfrey, who has been campaigning for Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama, was just two percentage points behind the former first lady.

Other women in the top 10 were US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (five percent), actress Angelina Jolie and first lady Laura Bush, both with three percent support and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who had the same level of support as Bhutto.

US House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, African-American author Maya Angelou and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II rounded off the list, all garnering one percent of Americans' votes.

The poll asked 1,011 adults in the US to choose women "living today in any part of the world" they admired most.

Buzz: Ramoji Rao's Land Business In Gujarat!

This is the historical point to underline by Telugus. After winning in elections Narendra Modi talked to Ramoji for more than 20 minutes just to thank him for the support given by his News Channel –'ETV-Gujarathi'. Modi was rightly glorified by ETV and that added a lot for his charisma, Modi believed firmly. Ramoji Rao seems to be keeping the CMs of various states in his grip wherever he is present with his ETV. He is not just confining his 'king maker activities' for Andhra Pradesh but spreading to other states as well.

Inside sources say that Ramoji Rao is in the process of buying a few thousands of acres of land in other states as well to spread his empire. Well, he may set up Film City or start his Eenadu News Paper in other languages as well. Ramoji has 'links' with BJP groups and he has got good relations with Venkayya Naidu and others. It is said that Ramoji wishes to have big lands in Gujarat, Karnataka and other states whichever are possible.

Let us see how far Modi will be helpful for Ramoji now.

Behind The Screen: Condolence or chamchagiri?

Whether or not Chiranjeevi enters politics, Kapu leaders appear to be in a hurry.

What should have been a condolence meeting has turned out to be a political platform for sycophants

On Wednesday, some local Kapu Sangham leaders led by film producer Ramesh Naidu, organized a condolence meeting to pay tributes to late Konidela Venkat Rao, father of Megastar Chiranjeevi at Ravindra Bharati. They invited a few film personalities including Kodi Ramakrishna, Srihari, Babu Mohan and Mada Venkateshwara Rao, apart from several community leaders.

Most of the participants, who spoke at the meeting, were more interested in eulogizing Chiranjeevi, rather than paying homage to Venkat Rao. Some of them, like Babu Mohan, went to the extent of saying that Venkat Rao was fortunate to give birth to a great personality like Chiranjeevi, who was “born on the earth only to serve the humanity”. “Venkat Rao garu should have survived for another one-and-a-half years. He would have been very happy to see his son changing the destiny of Andhra Pradesh,” a Kapu leader said. Babu Mohan, too, was all praise for Chiranjeevi and wished that the latter should take the reins of the State at the earliest, which would make his father’s soul in the heaven happy.

One wondered whether the meeting was organized to condole Venkat Rao’s death or do “chamchagiri” to Chiranjeevi.

Ironically, the same gathering remained on the dais and in the audience to pay homage to slain Kapu leader Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga on the occasion of his 8th on his death anniversary.

Babu happy over 'Stop Polavaram' order

The mega dam proposed at Polavaram village across the river Godavari would have spelt doom for the Telugu Desam and the TRS alike. The Telugu Desam was hoping that the Polavaram dam would not materialise. Much to the happiness of the Telugu Desam, the Left and the TRS, the Polavaram dam could not get environment clearance. This means there will be no Polavaram project.

Had Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy succeeded in taking up the Polavaram, the Telugu Desam would have been washed away. Because those in East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts would have voted for the Congress en masse. The Polavaram dam had been a dream project for long and Rajasekhar Reddy would have gone down in the history as the great visionary, after Sir Arthur Cotton.

In the Telangana region, the TRS would have too been washed away because the party failed to stop the Congress from going ahead with the project.

The rejection of permission for the dam had come as a blessing both for the Telugu Desam and the TRS. But it will prove a costly affair to the Congress. However, the Congress may scrape through putting the whole blame on the Telugu Desam, the Left and the TRS. The BJP, though it has a nominal presence in the State, also opposed the dam.

Fact Sheet: MSR triggers unrest in Cong

The appointment of former minister and Karimnagar MLA M Satyanarayana Rao as the chairman of AP State Road Transport Corporation has triggered a lot of unrest among the Congress leaders in the State.

For several months, Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has not been filling up any vacancies in the Corporations and Committees, despite the fact that several aspirants in the party have been bringing pressure on him to provide them posts. Everytime the Congress leaders go to him with a request to appoint them in the corporations, YSR has been turning them down, stating that it would create a lot of disgruntlement among those who don't get the posts.

But the sudden appointment of MSR as the APSRTC chairman, and that too, with a Cabinet rank, has created heartburn among the other Congress leaders. They are now questioning whether YSR would fill up the posts only if the leaders scold him. Now that the government has entered the election year, it is highly unlikely that he would fill up the posts at this stage, Gandhi Bhavan sources say.

Fact Sheet: Gujarat polls upset media!

The Gujarat election results have upset the plans of several new media ventures and made their promoters think twice.

Most of the promoters have scheduled the launch of their ventures in such a way that they would coincide with the mid-term elections to Lok Sabha, so that there would be hectic political activity in the State and they would have spicy political news to cover. Even "Saakshi" daily proposed to be launched by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, was expected to be launched some time next month. So are a couple of Telugu channels.

But, with the Congress receiving a setback in the Gujarat polls, the chances of mid-term elections to Lok Sabha have become bleak. As a result, the new media ventures would have nothing sensational to report and therefore, they are all getting rescheduled. Unless of course, Chiranjeevi really enters politics, which would again kick off a lot of political activity in the State!

Behind The Scene: Chiru entry, a Cong Ploy?

Is hype and hoopla around Chiranjeevi’s entry into politics just a ploy by Congress government in the State? Yes, say, some political observers. They said that the entire fracas that surrounded Kasu Prasada Reddy, an eye specialist, is a storm in tea cup.

Many may not agree with this, but the story goes like this: Prasada Reddy who is equally close to both Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as well as Chiranjeevi wanted to know the pulse of public on the mega star’s entry into politics, and if possible to assess its impact on the ruling Congress fortunes in coming polls.

For this, he has selected a small group of lower rung reporters and invited them to a star hotel at Begumpet for a talk. But, descended there were some senior political reporters who wasted no time in highlighting the story in a big way, making it to banner headlines next day.

NTV, in which a minister from Telangana is stated to have some share, promptly sensationalized the story, by putting it in scroll, throughout the day. This was taken by other channels too, which were badly waiting for a breaking story. So is the case with other major Telugu dailies.

Now, the story is simple. The actor issued a press release urging his fans to keep quiet, till he announced it officially, and the eye specialist is incommunicado to media, after chided by YSR, and the media struggling to sustain its story.

Meanwhile, the minister and the CM are happy that the entire episode has done a big benefit for them; to make people divert their attention from various scams and misdeeds of government. Poor TDP and other parties are left in lurch as they do not know what is going to happen to them now.

Venkaiah treates journos with 'chepala pulusu'!

After a long time, journalists in Hyderabad were treated with some real sumptuous feast by Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu.

For many days, politicians in the State capital have been treating the journalists with utter contempt, because of the fabricated stories appearing in the media on every politician. So, when Venkaiah gave them a royal feast in Hotel Mariotte, a star hotel in Hyderabad, it was virtually flooded with reporters not only on the BJP beat, but also on the other political and non-political beats. So much that Venkaiah wondered whether there were so many reporters in Hyderabad.

Okay, Venkaiah did not leave the reporters just like that. He gave them full two-hour bhashan in Hindi, English and Telugu. on how Narendra Modi could emerge victorious in Gujarat elections and why there are bright chances of BJP staging a come back in the next general elections. The mediapersons, who came in hundreds, had to patiently wait for the lunch, which of course was worth waiting. It had all varieties of menu: from Nellore Chepala Pulusu to Nadu Kodi fry to Hyderabad biryani.

Behind The Scene: Why did VHR purchase new dress?

Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao is a man of high optimism. Despite all the rumours that there are no chances for him to become the next Pradesh Congress Committee president or get a berth in the Manmohan Singh cabinet, he did not lose his hope.

The other day, Hanumantha Rao purchased two sets of new clothes – kurtha and pyjama, along with a coat in New Delhi. Yet, he did not wear them and has still been coming in his old dress to AP Bhavan in Delhi and Fateh Maidan Club in Hyderabad.

Inquiries revealed that he purchased the new dresses for the special occasion: when he becomes the PCC president or takes oath in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. Though he would do regular shopping, he wanted that those two dresses should be worn only on those occasions. One doesn't know whether his wish would be fulfilled or not. Wish him all the best!!

Photo Feature: Oldest Photograph of 1840

In 1814, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce created the first photographic image with a camera obscura, however, the image required eight hours of light exposure and later faded. Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre is considered the inventor of the first practical process of photography in 1837. That's what the history of still photography says.

The above photograph was taken somewhere in 1840 and it is archived in the oldest photographs documents now. So, this can be called the photograph that was taken in first phase in India. The ladies in this photograph were temple dancers (devadasis) as mentioned in a brief description along with this photograph.

NJ Telugus suggest Chiru to Tie-up with Lok Satta

Progressive Telugu Forum( PTF),USA has organized its Fourth event in Edison,NJ, on 23rd December as part of its national campain to bring Hope & Change in current political system in AP with the leadership of Chiranjeevi.

New Jersey Area PTF Co-Ordinater Srikanth Reddy Akuthota welcomed the audience and thanked them for attending despite heavy rain and servere weather conditions and holiday weekend.

PTF National Convener Ram Tatineni started the meeting with "Hope & Change with Chiranjeevi" message and explained the need of the day to get Chiranjeevi into politics for better Andhra Pradesh.

Several speakers participated in intelligent discussion on various aspects of current state of politics and what Chiru can & has to do with new party.

Mr Venu Palyam, Vice President, Marlabs Inc expressed confidence in the leadership of Chiranjeevi and started the discussion of how Chiranjeevi can take advantage of experience and knowledge of Lok Satha .

Many speakers agreed with Mr Venu and stressed the need to get into an alliance with Lok Satha as it has earned a clean image in AP with its tireless efforts on various issues such as Health and Education that are the most important factors in common man's life.

Other speakers include Satya Rayavarapu, Veer Tikki,Suresh,Shyam,Leela Krishna,Ramana Pasupuleti, HariKrishna and others.

Speakers raised concern about the current state of politics in AP and pressed the need for alternative political party .

Several people including local telugu families participated in the event and expressed confidence in Chiranjeevi's leadership.

Photos of the event can be viewed at the URL below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ramtatineni/NewJerseyMeet

PTF is organizing two more events in Bay Area and Los Angeles in California this weekend on 12/29 and 12/30.

For more details on these events please visit

http://chiruforap.com/bayarea.htm

http://chiruforap.com/la.htm

Please visit www.chiruforap.com and support Chiranjeevi by signing the on-line petitoion.

Thanks & Regards
Ram Tatineni
National Convener, Progressive Telugu Forum

Chiru passing through "Sade Saat" phase

Astrologers say that film actor Chiranjeevi is passing through the "Sade Saat" phase. Sade Saat or the bad seven afflicts all people on the earth during one or other phase of life. The bad seven years are known to cause heavy damage to property and public image of the individual. Many successfully come out of the phase by the Grace of the Almighty. But a few suffer during the period.

The film star is currently passing through this worse phase. The year 2007 was in a way the worst year for the film actor. The year started with one or the other trouble for Chiranjeevi. Several domestic issues put him to great botheration. His daughter ran away from home and married a person against the wishes of the family. Then the debut film of his son flopped at the box office. His brother is caught in a legal battle over a marital affair. And finally there was bereavement in his family.

Astrologers also point out that the next year too will be an uphill task for Chiranjeevi. Since he is passing through the bad seven years phase, his plans for a political party may backfire and will not yield any desired electoral result in the May 2009 elections.

This is something really bad for all those who believe in astrology and the Sade Saat phase. But it all depends on the Almighty God.

'Swathi' Editor Balaram Is Worth Rs 1500 Cr

This sounds a wonder to know that many of Telugu celebrities from various fields have turned crorepathis of more than Rs 1000 Cr in very short notice. After film stars, politicians and media barons now we have to talk about a magazine editor who earned many crores of worth approximately Rs 1500 Cr now. That is Vemuri Balaram, the editor of Swathy magazine.

He started the magazine with many hopes and myriad doubts 3 decades ago in a small room at Vijayawada. His family background was also rich but not to big extent. He didn't earn big figures with his legacy and parental property but only earned on Swathy magazine. Balaram used to spend his earnings from 'Swathy' only for his livelihood and the rest he invested on acres of lands at various places. He believed in cultivating lands and procured many acres. His house in Vijayawada is now a sprawling one and requires big eyes to see.

His lands have got steep appreciation in the past 4-5 years and left him with Rs 1500 Cr and above now. Is that not astounding to know!

Popular Politician of the Year-2007

He has been a notable personality in Rajahmundry from the past 30 years but not known for the rest of the state. He was in Congress and has been known as an interpreter and translator for Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi when they used to come to Rajahmundry. He never earned big and never made any sort of news in the past 30 years. But he turned a news maker all of a sudden this year by attacking Ramoji Rao's Margadarsi. His name goes along with that firm now. He is Undavalli Arun Kumar, the MP of Rajahmundry who turned popular this year. He exposed his invincible arguing capabilities, timely response for tricky questions and boldness in putting strife with media baron Ramoji Rao.

He turned a newsmaker this year and attracted each and every media channel, tabloids, news papers and websites. There were many magazines those were sold out in market in big way with his photograph on cover page. He also started a magazine by himself this year called 'Ee Vaaram'. He is now an MP and Editor of 'Ee Vaaram' too.

Every politician will be a news maker somehow or other. But breaking the silence and attracting the media and public all of a sudden is something to be underlined- and that too for quite a long time. So, Undavalli Arun Kumar can be called the popular politician of the year 2007.

Chiranjeevi's Father Very Strong And Sturdy

Chiranjeevi's father Shri Konidela Venkat Rao turned a topic for discussion among many. He breathed his last last morning leaving his family in big grief. The fans of Chiranjeevi took it very personal and few had shed tears as a silent condolence for the family of their star. Not only the fans of Chiranjeevi, but many other hearts also melted with compassion.

Many have started saying great things about Late Shri Venkat Rao.

"He was very strong and sturdy. He used to drive on motor cycle from Nellore to Rajahmundry when he was in his 50s. He is very disciplined and affectionate and the qualities were taken by his children", said an old friend of Venkat Rao.

"He used to have great affinity for Mogultur although traveled various places on transfers. Chiranjeevi used to study in Mogultur living in his aunt's house. Venkat Rao was known for love and affection", recalled another.

The day was spent by many mega fans and admirers of Mega Star by paying homage for the passed away father of Chiranjeevi, Nagababu and Pawan Kalyan.

New channel to have Telangana tinge

One more Telugu news channel will hit your screens soon. Called T Channel, this latest 24 x 7 network is likely to be commissioned by first quarter of next year. Former Andhra Jyoti editor K Ramachandra Murthy is the CEO cum MD of the new channel.

Bhavanarayana, of Maa TV former news editor will be the editor of this new channel, and Mallepalli Lakshmaiah, senior journalist and Dalit intellectual will be state network in charge. Rammohan, till recently with Satya TV, will be its output editor.

Though Kapil Chit fund people are touted to be owners of this new channel, sources say that Andhra Joyti boss Vemuri Radha Krishna has a strong stake in T Channel. A few NRIs from Karimnagar district are also said to have some minor stake in it.

The new channel will have a Telangana tinge to it, though its top brass is unlikely to own it. “Some people may say we are Telangana channel, while others are free to interpret it as Telugu channel and Truth channel,” said a functionary associated with the channel.

Anyway, it is going to be refreshingly different from the existing seven private Telugu news channels - ETV-2, TV 9, Maa TV, Teja News, Zee Telugu, NTV and TV 5. Indications are that actor Nagarjuna is busy with preparations of launching his own news channel in 2008.

Rumors: Devender Goud to join Chiranjeevi

Some important developments are in the offing in state. Telugu Desam Party veteran and former home minister T Devender Goud is set to join hands with mega star Chiranjeevi, who is expected to announce launching his own political outfit in the new year.

Vexed with Chandrababu Naidu’s tantrums aimed at him, Goud is seriously thinking of joining the bandwagon, which is likely to have the cause of social justice, sources said. In this case, Chiranjeevi, will have to acknowledge Goud as virtually No 2 in the new party.

This status has been eluding Goud in TDP presently. “Sometimes, Goud assumes that he is No 2 after Naidu, but he is equated with just yet another light weight, like Kadiam Srihari or Errabelli Dayakar Rao,” pointed out a TDP leader close to the Medchel MLA.

Goud is more hurt by the fact that certain TDP seniors like Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, who openly ridicule Goud, are believed to have the backing of TDP chief. “Naidu has no guts to challenge Goud openly, but he does give pinpricks to the latter indirectly,” said the Goud aide.

Normally, Goud always addresses Naidu as Sir”. But, of late, he started using singular number terms like “Aaayana” and “Baabu”. One should not forget the fact, that TDP senior Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao lost his place with Naidu, just because he addressed the CM as “Baabu” in a cabinet meeting long ago.

If Goud dumps Naidu, and embaraces Chiranjeevi, it is going to be a biggest blow to TDP in Telangana region. Not only that, backward classes elsewhere too would develop cold feet for TDP and distance themselves from it.

Some advisors of Goud are of the view that he should float a separate Telangna TDP and have a tie up with Chiranjeevi. “But, no final decision is taken on the course of action,” a Goud associate said. Anyway, Goud is going to unveil his political ambitions before 2009 polls.

Devendar Goud suggests, Babu follows

Till a few days ago it was the other way round. Telugu Desam supremo N Chandrababu Naidu used to call the shots in the party meetings and internal discussions. Now it is senior party leader T Devendar Goud who has been virtually dictating terms in the review meetings. Devendar Goud's suggestions and advices are accepted by Chandrababu Naidu instantly. Now that he is in the race for power, with State Assembly polls fast approaching, Chandrababu Naidu has come to terms. He knows fully well that if he has to win the political race, he should keep everyone in the Telugu Desam in happy mood. Since Devendar Goud hails from the backward Telangana and his role getting important in the area, Chandrababu Naidu does not want to antagonise him. Devendar Goud has of late emerged as a crowd puller in the Telangana region and Chandrababu Naidu wants to keep Devendar Goud in good humour at least till he bounces back to power.

On Monday during the Politburo meeting of the Telugu Desam, Devendar Goud came up with a list of suggestions which Chandrababu Naiud promptly agreed to implement. Even the distribution of blankets among the inmates of social welfare hostels is the idea thrown up by Devendar Goud.

BC leaders in the Telugu Desam are happy that Chandrababu Naidu is at last giving importance to senior leaders in the party. But the million dollar question that remains unanswered is: will Chandrababu Naidu continue with the same generous attitude after he comes to power, whether in 2009 or 2014.

Y S Jagan as Youth Congress president?

Will Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, son of Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, take over as the president of Andhra Pradesh Yough Congress?

Well, Khammam Zilla parishad chairperson G Vijayalaxmi wishes so. She asked Jaganmohan Reddy to join politics and take over as the Youth Congress president, so that he could give a new direction to the youth of the State.

Mrs Vijayalaxmi said that the energetic leaders like Jagan should not be away to the politics and he should join politics to extend his services to the poor. "I felt the above as a mother and I hope Jagan may honour my appeal", she said and she added that she noticed various programmes organised by him for the welfare of the poor in Kadapa and other districts.

Merry Christmas