VIJAYAWADA: The High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by the family members of slain Maoists Nambala Keshava Rao and Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao seeking action against Chhattisgarh police for contempt of court. The petitioners argued that despite the court directives to hand over the bodies, Chhattisgarh police cremated the bodies instead of complying with the order. However, the High Court bench ruled that it lacked jurisdiction in the matter, stating that since both the encounter a

VIJAYAWADA: State CPI secretary K Ramakrishna on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider the recently announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, and enhance it in proportion to the rising input costs. He criticised the Centres MSP announcement for the 2025-26 Kharif season, alleging that it failed to address the financial burden of farmers, and reflected a dismissive attitude, particularly towards paddy ryots. The Centre announced MSP for 14 Kharif crops, including paddy. However, the MSP

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh is accelerating the rollout of rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with a target of 20 lakh units by the end of 2025, Chief Secretary and Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayanand said during a review meeting in Vijayawada on Thursday. He directed DISCOMs and NREDCAP to achieve three lakh rooftop solar connections by June 2025, assigning 75,000 each to APCPDCL, APSPDCL, and APEPDCL, and another 75,000 to NREDCAP. Weekly progress

VIJAYAWADA: The HC on Thursday granted bail to former Intelligence Chief and senior IPS officer PSR Anjaneyulu in the alleged harassment of doctor and actress Kadambari Jethwani, imposing strict conditions. Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao clarified that detailed orders would follow and made remarks regarding police conduct. The court expressed displeasure over the police labelling the case filed by businessman Kukkala Vidyasagar against Jethwani as false. It is the responsibility of courts to de

VIJAYAWADA: The High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to former Gannavaram MLA and YSRCP leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan in connection with an illegal mining case. Additionally, the court permitted Vamsi, who is suffering from lung-related ailments, to receive medical treatment at a private hospital. While hearing the bail petition, Justice Nunepalli Harinath directed Vamsi to provide two sureties of Rs 20,000 each and mandated his appearance before the investigating officer on the se

VIJAYAWADA: The first phase lottery results for free admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act have been released, with 23,117 seats allotted to eligible children across private schools in the State. Of the 37,427 children who applied, 28,561 were found eligible after six stages of verification. Parents will receive the results via SMS. Full details are available at https://cse.ap.gov.in. Admitted students must confirm their seats at the respective schools by June 7. The phase-II results

VIJAYAWADA: A team from IndiGo Airlines, led by Associate Director of Sales (South India) Saurabh Sachdeva, met office-bearers of the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (AP Chambers) in Vijayawada on Thursday. AP Chambers President Potluri Bhaskara Rao highlighted the growing aviation potential in the Vijayawada region and urged IndiGo to introduce more international flights. We thank IndiGo for launching the Vijayawada-Kurnool direct flight. There is an immense demand f

VIJAYAWADA: Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar has announced that fair price shops across the State will resume distributing essential commodities to ration cardholders starting June 1, emphasising seamless delivery to uphold public trust. Speaking after inspecting the trial run of essentials distribution at Ration Shop No. 218 in Vijayawada on Thursday, he urged dealers to ensure transparency in the public distribution system. Accompanied by Civil Supplies Commissioner Saurabh Gaur, he al

KADAPA: Pulivendula police on Wednesday night registered a case against 15 individuals, including Municipal Chairman P Varaprasad, and Vice-Chairman Hafeez, following a controversial incident involving the removal of decorations erected by TDP cadre ahead of the three-day Mahanadu. The case was registered just hours after MP YS Avinash Reddy addressed a press conference. Out of the 15 accused, 13 YSRCP activists were taken into custody overnight. The sudden arrests sparked political ripples, ale

KADAPA: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communication Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar has announced a Pemmasani Chandra Sekharcomprehensive plan to transform Gandikota into a world-class tourism destination. Accompanied by Jammalamadugu MLA Ch Adinarayana Reddy, Pemmasani visited Gandikota on Thursday. Speaking to the media, he said the Union Tourism Ministry had sanctioned Rs 78 crore for the development of the region. Taking a peep into history, he lauded the regions rich heritage a

GUNTUR: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr Pemasani Chandrasekhar has announced the establishment of a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Skill Centre at Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) near Amaravati to boost employment opportunities for youth. Aligning with Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidus goal of generating 20 lakh jobs and IT Minister Nara Lokeshs vision for skill development in the capital region, the Centre has approved a spoke hub model to

GUNTUR: Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali has directed aqua industry operators, resort owners and hoteliers to run their establishments in an environmentally responsible manner. During a review meeting held at the Collectorate on Thursday, he emphasised the need to safeguard local irrigation resources and prevent pollution. He instructed aqua unit owners to allocate at least half an acre for waste management and warned against discharging waste into agricultural canals. All prawn proce

TIRUPATI: An inquiry by the Vigilance Department in Tirupati has confirmed the misappropriation of Rs 300 crore Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) funds during the previous YSRCP regime. In response to the complaint of Chandragiri MLA Pulivarthi Venkata Mani Prasad (Nani) and orders of the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), the Vigilance and Enforcement Department officials initiated the inquiry and submitted a report to the Director General of Police (Vigilance and Enforcement). It will be

KADAPA: TDP national general secretary and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has emphasised the importance of unity in governance and the need for political humility. Addressing a massive public gathering as part of the TDP Mahanadu in Kadapa on Thursday, he said the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance, with the full support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working efficiently to develop the State on all fronts. Lokesh called for humility in leadership, drawing lessons from the previous regimes downfall. Arrogance d

KADAPA: Drawing inspiration from Operation Sindoor, TDP National President and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday announced the launch of Operation Clean Politics to root out financial terrorists from state politics. Speaking at a public meeting on the concluding day of Mahanadu in Kadapa, Naidu called for a new era of positive and progressive politics. He emphasised that while traditional terrorists pose a serious threat to the nation, economic terrorists disguised as politicians ar

VIJAYAWADA: The Port City is set to host the Milan 2026, a biennial Indian Navys flagship exercise, and the International Fleet Review from February 14 to 24. On Wednesday, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena met Chief Secretary K Vijayanand at the Secretariat. On this occasion, the Chief Secretary clarified that the State government will provide all necessary support and assistance to make the event a grand success. These events also help Andhra Pradesh in garn

VIJAYAWADA: The State governments Yogandhra campaign, launched to promote physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga ahead of the International Yoga Day, has received an enthusiastic response across the state in its first week. The government has set a target of 2 crore people for the month long programme, officials said. In the first week, against a weekly target of 26.66 lakh, a total of 28.55 lakh people registered for the programme (107 percent). Special Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu

VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed deep anguish over the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl at Kambaladinne village in Mylavaram mandal of YSR Kadapa district. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan said the crime had left him heartbroken, and raised serious questions about the societys collective failure to protect children. Those who commit such crimes are nothing short of human beasts. They should be given the harshest punishment possible, he said. Pawan

VIJAYAWADA: Family members of YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy have filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court to contest the seizure of 63.72 acres of their land in CK Dinne mandal of YSR Kadapa district. District Collector Sridhar Cherukuri ordered the seizure of land on May 21, 2025. Petitioners, including Sajjala Sandeep Reddy, Bhagirathi, Janardhan Reddy, Vijayakumari, and Y Satya Sandeep Reddy, seek to halt the Collectors order, alleging unlawful interference in their 201.17 a

VIJAYAWADA: The meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 4-lane Badvel-Nellore Corridor with a length of 108.134 km at a cost of Rs 3,653.10 crore on National Highway 67 under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) mode. The proposed Badvel-Nellore Corridor will provide connectivity to important nodes in the three Industrial Corridors of Andhra Pradesh, i.e., Kopparthy Node on the Visakhapatnam-Chenna

VIJAYAWADA: State BJP president and Rajamahendravaram MP Daggubati Purandeswari posted on social media platform X that she is part of an all-party parliamentary delegation that met Stefania Craxi, President of Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Senate of Italy, in Rome on Wednesday as part of the diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor. The Indian delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, conveyed Indias firm and united stance against terrorism in all its forms, emphasising a poli

VIJAYAWADA: In Kakinada district, shockingly, one theatre failed to meet 12 mandatory norms, while two other theatres failed to meet 11 and 10 norms respectively. RDO S Malli Babu, who led inspections at 11 theatres including those in Pithapuram, Samalkot, and Kakinada Urban, reported serious violations including expired fire extinguishers, lack of fire safety, missing exit signage, and unsanitary conditions. In one theatre, food quality failed to meet FSSAI standards, with cooking oil being reu

GUNTUR: A Class 10 student from Bapatla district saw a dramatic turnaround in her SSC results after re-evaluation, prompting appeals for a special admission opportunity and raising concerns at the highest levels about lapses in paper correction. Tejaswini, a student at Zilla Parishad High School in Kolluru, was initially declared failed in the recently released SSC results, with just 23 marks in Social Studies. However, having scored over 90 marks in five other subjects, her family suspected an

GUNTUR: YSRCP former social media in-charge Sajjala Bhargav Reddy appeared before Mangalagiri Rural Police on Wednesday in connection with a case involving obscene social media posts aimed at top NDA leaders. The interrogation lasted over 90 minutes at the rural police station. The case dates back to November 2024, when leaders of the ITDP filed a complaint alleging that Bhargav Reddy and fellow YSRCP leader Parvatham Sudhakar Reddy shared offensive content online targeting Chief Minister N Chan

GUNTUR: In a continued effort to uphold law and order, Palnadu district police carried out a cordon and search operation in Pamidimarru village under the Narasaraopet Rural Police Station limits on Wednesday. Palnadu Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanchi Srinivasa Rao said the operation aimed to identify anti-social elements and those disturbing public peace, reinforcing the police departments commitment to public safety. During the operation, police monitored rowdy-sheeters, repeat offenders, an

GUNTUR: A group of tourists, reportedly under the influence of intoxicants, allegedly assaulted forest department personnel at Kondaveedu Fort in Palnadu district on Monday evening. The group, which included a woman from Guntur, her daughter, nephew, and driver, reached the ghat road check post after 6 pm. Despite being informed that entry was closed for the day, they insisted on proceeding after purchasing tickets and entered the hill area. They then trespassed into a closed childrens park. An

VIJAYAWADA/ONGOLE: The 102nd birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) was observed across Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, with tributes paid at government offices, police departments, and legal forums. At the State Secretariat, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand offered floral tributes to NTR, describing him as a role model both as an actor and a leader who introduced several welfare schemes for the poor. Senior officials including Sp

TIRUPATI: A sense of panic engulfed the Tirupati District Collectorate and Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College when they received hoax bomb threats on Wednesday morning, prompting a swift emergency response. According to Tirupati district police, both the Collectorate and the colleges principal office received threatening emails from fake IDs, claiming bombs were planted on the premises. Authorities quickly alerted police, who deployed bomb disposal squads and additional security personnel. Th

ONGOLE: A destitute familys crisis took a tragic turn after the mother died while undergoing treatment at Ongole Government General Hospital (GGH) and her husband fled with their 3-year-old son, leaving the body in the hospital mortuary as they lack means for a proper cremation. The deceased, Ponnam Durgamma, and her husband Ponnam Polaiah, from Kothapatnam, survived by collecting scrap materials and had no permanent residence. Durgamma had been in poor health since the birth of their son and wa

SRIKAKULAM: Family members of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavraju, sought the ashes following his reported cremation on Tuesday. However, police at Narayanpur allegedly detained them and asked them to sign a document written in Hindi. Keshava Raos younger brother, Ram Prasad, who understands Hindi, refused to sign the document, claiming it was prepared by police to shield themselves from responsibility. The family reached the Jiyyannapeta on Wednesday. The issue has si

GUNTUR: Amid a nationwide rise in Covid-19 cases, six cases were reported in the erstwhile Guntur district on Wednesday. Among them, three fresh cases were recorded in Bapatla and Palnadu districts on Wednesday, while the other three were registered in Guntur over the last couple of days, District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) Dr Vijaya Lakshmi confirmed. A married couple from Eluru tested positive at Manipal Hospital in Tadepalli. An 83-year-old man from Tenali, reportedly in serious condi

KADAPA: Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, on Day 2 of Mahanadu 2025, described the Stree Shakti resolution for women empowerment as a game changer, promising zero tolerance to smear campaign or indecent remarks against women on social media. Those who misbehave with girls - that will be your last day, he warned. Stree Shakti is one of the six key resolutions unveiled by TDP national general secretary and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh aimed at shaping a progressive and inclusive futu

KADAPA: A strong demand from within the TDP has emerged at Mahanadu seeking the appointment of HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh as the party working president. The proposal was vocally supported by several senior leaders, ministers and MLAs on Day 2 of the TDP annual conclave, reflecting the cadres growing confidence in Lokeshs leadership and vision. Several TDP leaders and ministers have urged party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu to entrust Lokesh with this key organisational responsibility. Financ

KURNOOL: With the seasons first rainfall in Kurnool district, diamond seekers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have started arriving in Maddikera and Tuggali mandals in search of precious stones. Villagers and fortune-seekers have flocked to areas such as Jonnagiri, Peravali, Pagidirayi, and Madanantapuram, driven by age-old legends linking the region to the buried treasures of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya and his minister Timmarusu. Local sources reported a few recent discoveries o

KADAPA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the construction of the much-anticipated steel plant in Kadapa will commence within the next 10 days. Naidu made this announcement after being re-elected as the National President of the Telugu Desam Party on the second day of the ongoing Mahanadu conclave on Wednesday. The declaration, made by the partys election committee chairman Varla Ramaiah, drew loud cheers from party leaders and workers. After assuming charge, Naidu addressed the

VIJAYAWADA: On Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, the stark reality of adolescent girls in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana highlights that the lack of access to sanitary pads, clean toilets, and menstrual education continues to affect their health and education. Nithya(name changed), a teenager from Nelaturu village in Andhra Pradesh, was caught off guard by her first period. Her parents, both agricultural labourers, could offer little guidance. Siri (name changed), from Machara village, echoed similar st

VIJAYAWADA: The State government, which aimed to complete 1.55 lakh farm ponds, has so far constructed 50,000, with Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR), Parvathipuram Manyam, and Annamayya districts leading the progress. According to Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Commissioner VR Krishna Teja, 7,566 farm ponds were completed in the ASR district, 6,317 in Parvathipuram Manyam, and 5,181 in Annamayya district. Calling farm ponds the Sanjeevani of agriculture, Krishna Teja said that they enable the cul

VIJAYAWADA: In a decisive move to tackle corruption and boost administrative efficiency, the Health Ministry has introduced special transfer guidelines that override the standard rules framed under GO Ms.No.23 dated May 15. Approved by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the new rules aim to improve service delivery across medical establishments. The revised guidelines target two key categories of employees: junior and senior assistants, and senior medical officers of Additional Director of Medi

VIJAYAWADA: In a significant ruling, the High Court has sharply criticised police interference in civil disputes, particularly those related to land issues, stating that they have no authority to intervene in such matters. The HC clarified that civil disputes between individuals should be resolved through civil courts under the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) or through statutory bodies like the State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority, and Mandal Legal Services Authority.

VIJAYAWADA: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Shri on noted economist Prof. Kosaraju Leela Krishna for his exceptional contributions to education and literature at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were present. A native of Unguturu village in Krishna district, Prof. Krishna, fondly known as KL or KLK in academic circles, has been a leadin

VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan has called for stringent oversight in the management of cinema halls across the state to ensure better services for moviegoers. In a review meeting with Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh and other senior officials, he issued key directives regarding the regulation of cinema ticket pricing, food item costs within theatres, and the recent cinema hall bandh issue that has rocked the Telugu film industry. Pawan Kalyan made it

KADAPA: The city of Kadapa was awash in yellow as thousands of TDP leaders and workers gathered at Mahanadu being held at the Pabbapuram layout. The three-day event kicked off in a grand manner with cultural performances, traditional music, and a massive turnout of delegates from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and beyond. On Day 1, the TDP held its Representative Council Meeting, drawing immense crowds that led to traffic congestion along Kadapas 36 km ring road connecting Rayachoti, Kamalapu

KADAPA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday dedicated the partys success in last years elections (93% strike rate and over 57% vote share) to the unwavering sacrifices of the party workers. The Telugu Desam Party national president inaugurated the three-day annual party conclave Mahanadu in Kadapa on Tuesday. Addressing the party cadre, Naidu said, Holding Mahanadu at the divine doorstep of Kadapa after our historic win in seven out of ten seats in this district, reflects the passion o

KADAPA: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), marking 43 years of its journey, unveiled a transformative agenda to meet the evolving aspirations of the Telugu people. At the partys annual Mahanadu convention in Kadapa, TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh addressed thousands of delegates, and laid out six key resolutions aimed at shaping a progressive and inclusive future for Andhra Pradesh. Times are changing, and so must we, said Lokesh, stressing that while the TDP continues to stand firmly on

KADAPA: TDP general secretary and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has sought to know what is the urgency for him to take the post of Chief Minister. In an informal interaction with mediapersons on the sidelines of Mahanadu on Tuesday, Lokesh described Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as a young and dynamic leader. He is of the firm opinion that the nation and the state require the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naidu respectively. In response to a question from reporters that when he

GUNTUR: A viral video showing police personnel publicly thrashing three young men, accused in several cases, in Tenali has sparked outrage, prompting the Human Rights Forum (HRF) to demand a judicial inquiry. The video, circulated on May 26, shows Tenali II Town police beating the accused in full public view, an act the HRF called degrading and unconstitutional. The incident relates to a case registered on April 25 following a complaint by Constable Kanna Chiranjeevi. The constable alleged that

GUNTUR: As part of the month-long Yogandhra campaign, the Guntur district administration took out an awareness rally from NTR Municipal Stadium in Brindavan Gardens to the Mother Teresa statue at Lakshmipuram in the city on Tuesday. Guntur district in-charge Collector Bhargava Teja and Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) Commissioner Puli Srinivasulu participated in the rally, which aims to engage people at all levels. On the occasion, Bhargava Teja said the district administration is identifying

VISAKHAPATNAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday reported the formation of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, off the Odisha coast, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation. The system is associated with a cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, tilting southwards with height. The IMD stated that the system is likely to move slowly northwards and become more marked over the next 48 hours. The isolated places might experience he

TIRUMALA: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials have decided to implement short-term and long-term measures to address the increasing movement of wild cats, including leopards, along the Tirumala ghat roads and footpaths. TTD resolved to deploy additional personnel and improve garbage management along the Alipiri route. Officials also agreed to conduct regular joint drives involving Forest, Revenue, Panchayat Raj, Health, and Vigilance departments, with the support of Forest Department

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh lost 468 hectares of primary forest in 2024, marking a slight increase from the 424 hectares lost in 2023, according to data released by Global Forest Watch (GFW), a coalition of over 100 organisations. The data reveals a fluctuating yet steady trend in forest degradation over recent years, with losses recorded at 193 hectares in 2022, 143 hectares in 2021, 225 hectares in 2020, and 363 hectares in 2019. In 2020, the state had approximately 2.46m hectares of forest,