Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao turned 61 years on Tuesday and his birthday was celebrated across the State by the rank and file of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Mr. Rao, however, was away in Mumbai to discuss the contentious inter-State issues with his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis on several irrigation projects taken up across Godavari river and its tributaries in Telangana.
Cutting birthday cakes, distributing fruits and food, organising blood donation camps and offering special prayers in temples for the well-being and long life of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao marked the birthday celebrations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Mr. Fadnavis and a host of others from different walks of life greeted Mr. Rao on his birthday. In his tweet made at 6.37 a.m., the Prime Minister said: “Warm birthday greetings to Telangana CM Shri K Chandrashekar Rao, had a wonderful meeting with him yesterday (Monday).”
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao offered prayers at the famous Siddhi Vinayak temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai in the wee hours, both as part of Shivaratri celebrations and his birthday. The temple priests blessed him after he offered special prayers, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.
Later, Mr. Rao cut a cake in Raj Bhavan there in the presence of Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, the First Lady of that State and the delegation from Telangana. The Maharashtra Governor also hosted a lunch for Mr. Rao and the visiting delegation.
Back in Telangana, the TRS rank and file organised the birthday celebrations across the State by organising various programmes. A 61-kg cake was cut in Telangana Bhavan, the party headquarters in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Md. Mahamood Ali, Energy Minister G. Jagadish Reddy, Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha and others.
A song written for Telugu film ‘Bandook’ eulogising the role of Mr. Rao in achieving statehood to Telangana was also released on the occasion.
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari and others cut cake at the Warangal TRS party office and wished the Chief Minister good health. Later, Mr. Srihari offered special prayers in a few temples there. In Hyderabad, Mr. Mahamood Ali visited Yousufian Dargah in Nampally and offered prayers.
Source: The Hindu