HYDERABAD: The expected encounter between the chief ministers of two Telugu states at the state banquet hosted by governor ESL Narasimhan to President Pranab Mukherjee at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday night, did not happen with the K Chandrasekhar Rao skipping the event as he was suffering from illness.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu attended the State Banquet. In the wake of escalated political tensions between AP and TS after the cash-for-vote and demand for invoking section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the political circles curiously waited for the much awaited face-to-face between the two CMs at the state banquet.
Chandrasekhar Rao, however, fell ill suddenly on Tuesday morning. The CMO sources said Rao was suffering from fever and cancelled all his appointments and even postponed the day’s reviews to Wednesday.
However, it was expected that Rao would go to Raj Bhavan in the evening and spend at least a few minutes there. But, Rao skipped the dinner hosted by governor.
Telangana deputy chief minister K Srihari represented the state while a battery of VIPs including TS Legislative Council chairman K Swamy Goud, several ministers, MLAs, officials from AP and TS attended the state banquet.
Narasimhan along with his wife extended a warm welcome to all the VIPs in a traditional manner.
It was customary that the governor will host banquet to the President, when he comes to Hyderabad as part of his Southern Sojourn. President Pranab Mukherjee arrived at Raj Bhavan from Bolarum for dinner at 8 pm. Earlier in the day, Chandrababu Naidu called on Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum.