Friday, March 27, 2009
Ugadi dhamaka
NTR Junior take a ‘break’?
Congress banks on PJR’s image
Monday, March 23, 2009
PR will give over 100 seats to BCs: Chiru
| Criticises Congress for giving ticket to only 66 BCs |
Reminds YSR of resolution on giving 1/3 tickets to BCs
Says crowds at PR meetings indicate party’s popularity
HITTING OUT: Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi addressing a press conference at his party office on Sunday. Party leader T. Devender Goud is beside him. HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi has said that by giving party tickets to only 66 candidates from the backward classes, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy stood exposed.
At a press conference on Sunday, he said after crying hoarse that the list of candidates prepared by the Congress would truly reflect the party’s sincerity towards implementing social justice, people expected him to ensure that at least 100 seats were allotted to the BCs.
However, the Congress ended up giving 138 seats to the forward classes, including 87 to those from one single community (Reddys), he said, reminding the Chief Minister of the unanimous resolution passed in the Assembly in August 2008 that all parties must give one-third of the tickets to the BCs.
“The Praja Rajyam will not go back on its promise of ensuring social justice, by giving over 100 seats to the BCs,” Mr. Chiranjeevi reiterated, demanding that Dr. Reddy should quit office for not keeping his word.
Referring to the large turnout at party’s rallies in Tirupati, Rajahmundry and at the Parade Grounds here on Saturday, he said it was proof of the party’s popularity across all three regions. “There is a silent revolution happening and the day is not far, when people will vote for change and for social justice,” he said.
No time for talksHe shook his head in response to a query whether Praja Rajyam would ally with the TRS, with reports of the latter likely to break away from the Grand Alliance. “The time for talks is over. Members of the alliance want the world to know they are united, but fact is, they have their individual agenda.”
Common symbolAsked about the search for a common symbol, Mr. Chiranjeevi said he was prepared to wait till the last minute for it. “We have furnished proof of our large membership and we are hopeful of justice being done by the EC. Otherwise too, we have our alternate plans,” he said.
PR leaders quit party
ANANTAPUR: The PR received a double jolt with district convenor of the party P.C. Ganganna quitting the party on Saturday after another senior leader V. Prabhakara Chowdary left the party on Friday. The two quit the party saying they were not given priority by the party leadership.
PR list in two days
| Over 100 BCs will get ticket, says Chiru |
HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi has said that by giving party tickets to only 66 candidates from the backward classes, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy stood exposed.
At a press conference on Sunday, he said that after crying hoarse that the list of candidates prepared by the Congress would truly reflect the party’s sincerity towards implementing social justice, people expected him to ensure that at least a 100 seats were allotted to the BCs.
ResolutionHowever, the Congress ended up giving 138 seats to the forward classes, including 87 to those from one single community (Reddys), he said, reminding the Chief Minister of the unanimous resolution passed in the Assembly in August 2008 that all parties must give one-third of the tickets to the BCs.
“The Praja Rajyam will not go back on its promise of ensuring social justice, by giving over 100 seats to the BCs,” Mr. Chiranjeevi reiterated, demanding that Dr. Reddy should quit office for not keeping his word.
Referring to the large turnout at party’s rallies in Tirupati, Rajahmundry and at the Parade Grounds here on Saturday, he said it was proof of the party’s popularity across all three regions.
Silent revolution“There is a silent revolution happening and the day is not far, when people will vote for change and for social justice,” he repeated.
He shook his head in response to a query whether Praja Rajyam would ally with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, with reports of the latter likely to break away from the Grand Alliance.
“The time for talks is over. Members of the alliance want the world to know they are united, but fact is, they had their individual agenda”.
Asked about the party’s search for a common symbol, Mr. Chiranjeevi simply said he was prepared to wait till the last pos‘Rain God is with PR’
Virodhi Nama Samvatsara Ugadi celebrations will be organised on a grand scale jointly by Janahita, an NGO and Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu Kalakshetram at DVN Kalakshetram Auditorium in MVP Colony on March 27.
The agenda for the programme, which will be held in the evening, includes felicitations to scholars, recital of poems hailing the greatness of Telugu language, cultural programmes, mimicry, stalls of Teluguvari pindivantalu.
Former Telugu professor of Andhra University Vedula Subrahmanya Sastry and other scholars will be present during the function.
Patanjali Yoga Ashramamu will organise a free mega ‘surya namaskaram’ camp on the day at the ZPH school playground of Gopalapatnam from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
‘Rain God is with PR’
Varuna, the rain God, has changed party loyalties and joined PR, according to mega star Chiranjeevi. As the cloudy weather accompanied by occasional drizzle cheered the huge gathering at the Parade Grounds during its ‘Praja Vijaya Bheri’, the PR president recalled that similar conditions prevailed at Tirupati and Rajahmundry.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
the 54th Filmfare Awards 2009:
- Best Film - Jodha Akbar
- Best Director - Ashutosh Gowarikar (Jodha Akbar)
- Best Actor - Hritik Roshan - (Jodha Akbar)
- Best Actress - Priyanka Chopra - Best Actress (Fashion)
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Om Puri & Bhanu Athaiya
- Best Music Director - AR Rahman (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
- Best Story - Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On)
- Best Supporting Actor - Arjun Rampal (Rock On)
- Best Supporting Actress - Kangna Ranaut (Fashion)
- Best Playback Singer (Male) - Sukhwinder Singh (Haule Haule - Rab Ne Bana De Jodi)
- Best Playback Singer (Female) - Shreya Ghoshal (Singh is Kinng)
- Best Debut (Male) - Farhan Akhtar (Rock On) & Imraan Khan (Jaane Tu)
- Best Debut (Female) - Asin (Ghajini)
- RD Burman Upcoming Talent - Benny Dayal (Ghajini)
- Best Costumes - Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
- Best Background Score - AR Rahman (Jodha Akbar)
- Best Cinematography - Jason West (Rock On!)
- Best Editing - Amit Pawar (Mumbai Meri Jaan)
- Best Coreography - Longinus (Jaane Tu)
- Best Lyricist - Javed Akhtar (Jashn-e-Bahara, Jodha Akbar)
- Best Sound Design - Baylon Fonseca & Vinod Subramanyam (Rock On)
- Best Visual Effects - John Deitz (Love Story 2050)
- Best Action - Peter Heinn (Ghajini)
IPL Match Schedule for 2009
IPL Match Schedule for 2009
The Indian Premier League second season will be DLF IPL 2009. Indian Premier League is established by the BCCI in 2007. The second season is tentatively scheduled between April 10 and May 29 2009. The format of the tournament would remain unchanged from the 2008 season format.
The eight franchisees will first play against one another in a league on home-and-away basis. The top four teams will then figure in the two semi-finals and a final.
I will keep you posted as soon as the dates and location are set for the matches.
IPL schedule is below.
Apr 10: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils at Jaipur 8PM - 11PM
Apr 11: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers at Kolkata 4M - 7PM
Apr 11: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers at Chennai 4pm - 7pm
Apr 12: Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
Apr 12: Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 13: Deccan Chargers vs Chennai Super Kings at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
Apr 14: Royal Challengers vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
Apr 15: Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians at Mohali 8PM - 11PM
Apr 16: Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils at Hyderabad 4PM - 7PM
Apr 16: Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 17: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 18: Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers at Mohali 4PM - 7PM
Apr 18: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Darevils at Kolkata 8PM - 11PM
Apr 19: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 19: Royal Challengers vs Rajasthan Royals at Bangalore 4PM - 7PM
Apr 20: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab at Kolkata 8PM - 11PM
Apr 21: Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
Apr 22: Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers at Jaipur 8PM - 11PM
Apr 23: Royal Challengers vs Kings XI Punjab at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
Apr 24: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 25: Delhi Daredevils vs Royals Challeners at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
Apr 25: Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab at Chennai 4PM - 7PM
Apr 26: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Jaipur 8PM - 11PM
Apr 26: Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
Apr 27: Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers at Mohali 8PM - 11PM
Apr 28: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
Apr 29: Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals at Mohali 8PM - 11PM
Apr 29: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Chennai 4PM - 7PM
Apr 30: Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
May 1: Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
May 2: Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers at Mumbai 4PM - 7PM
May 2: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajhasthan Royals at Kolkata 8PM - 11PM
May 3: Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings at Mohali 8PM - 11PM
May 3: Royal Challengers vs Delhi Daredevils at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
May 4: Deccan Chargers vs Rajsathan Royals at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
May 5: Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
May 6: Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab at Jaipur 8PM - 11PM
May 6: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians at Kolkata 4PM - 7PM
May 7: Royal Challengers vs Deccan Chargers at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
May 8: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings at Kolkata 8PM - 11PM
May 9: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians at Jaipur 8PM - 11PM
May 9: Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils at Mohali 4PM - 7PM
May 10: Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
May 11: Delhi Daredevils vs Rajsathan Royals at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
May 12: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab at Mumbai 4PM - 7PM
May 12: Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
May 13: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers at Kolkata 8PM - 11PM
May 14: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings at Jaipur 4PM - 7PM
May 14: Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers at Delhi 8PM - 11PM
May 15: Royal Challengers vs Mumbai Indians at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
May 16: Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Delhi 4PM - 7PM
May 16: Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab at Hyderabad 8PM - 11PM
May 17: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers at Jaipur 4PM - 7PM
May 17: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
May 18: Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Mohali 8PM - 11PM
May 19: Royal Challengers vs Chennai Super Kings at Bangalore 8PM - 11PM
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May 21: Semi FInal 1 at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
May 22: Semi FInal 2 at Chennai 8PM - 11PM
May 24: FINALS at Mumbai 8PM - 11PM
 | IPL Live Cricket Matches Season 2 April - May 2009 Quiz | |||||||||||||
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HYDERABAD: Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao on Thursday cleared a proposal by the Praja Rajyam to organise the party’s Praja Vijayabheri at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad on March 21. He directed district Collectors to issue the required vehicle passes with validity for two days (March 21 and 22) so that party followers would not face any problem from the police while entering the city from districts and going back.
He complimented the PRP for coming out with a clear plan on the public meeting, specifying even the number of vehicles expected (2,000 to 3,000).
PR to release first list on March 22
Staff ReporterBALLAPADU (Krishna district): The Praja Rajyam is all set to release its first list of candidates who will enter the fray in general elections at Hyderabad on March 22.
Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi told a press conference here on Thursday, before setting out on the final day of his road shows in Krishna district, that the party would announce the names of about 100 to150 candidates. The list of remaining candidates would be announced at a later date.
In response to a question, he made clear that Buragadda Vedavyas, the sitting MLA of the now abolished Malleswaram constituency who switched loyalties from the Congress, would enter the fray, but did not mention the name of the constituency. The announcement is being widely seen as endorsement of Mr. Vedavyas’ candidature from Machilipatnam Assembly constituency. Mr. Chiranjeevi also reiterated that Raavi Venkateswara Rao would be fielded from Gudivada. He said the party had done a comprehensive study of the candidates aspiring to contest taking various factors into consideration. Selecting a candidate was a Herculean task for the Praja Rajyam, as the party had to look into various aspects and also ensure that its ideology of social justice was met.
Political satires should be taken in a lighter vein. At least, movie director Dasari Narayana Rao feels so. After participating in actor Sobhan Babu’s first death anniversary in Rajahmundry, he said that his flick, ‘Mestry’, was packed with several pot-shots. Oft-repeated words of former Prime Minister P.V. Nrasimha Rao – ‘Law will take its own course’ and NTR’s dialogue ‘What do I have except ash’ found place in the movie.
Blood donation camp
Kakinada: A blood donation camp was organised by NSS unit of Chaitanya Institute of Engineering and Technology (CIST), Kakinada in collaboration with Lions Club Millennium on Friday. The camp was inaugurated by social worker Badam Bala Krishna. Principal V.V. Krishna advised the students to contribute their share to social service along with studies. Lions Club Millennium President Bhavani, CIST Director GSN Raju, NSS Programme Officer Stephen Suresh and others participated. About 150 students of CIST donated blood. Staff à°°ిà°ªోà°°్à°Ÿà°°్
PR, BSP to share meeting ground Special CorrespondentArmy authorities refuse to allow PR meeting at Bison Polo Grounds citing some exercises
Temporary licences issued to both parties to secure the Parade Grounds from March 20 to 24
HYDERABAD: Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam which is gearing up for a massive show of strength with its public meeting at the Parade Grounds tomorrow almost did not happen.
The Defence Estates Office had earlier given permission to hold the meeting at the Bison Polo Grounds as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had booked the Parade Grounds from March 20 to 24.
However, Army authorities refused to allow the meeting citing some exercises even after permission was granted by the DEO.
Alarmed PR men confabulated with the BSP activists and also the DEO, S. Balakrishna, where it was decided to “share” the Parade Grounds venue since Mayawati’s meeting was on March 23.
Accordingly, the DEO re-issued the temporary licences to both parties on Friday night allowing PR to secure the ground on March 20 and March 21 while BSP would have the venue from March 22 to March 24.
“We did not want to discriminate between both the parties and arrived at a mutually acceptable formula,” said Mr. Balakrishna, declining to elaborate further.
Chiru overwhelmed by response
| No differences with party leader Mitra, says the Praja Rajyam chief |
Yuva Rajyam president to address people of Machilipatnam
Second leg of roadshows in Krishna after Vijaya Bheri
GUDIVADA: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi on Friday said his brother and Yuva Rajyam president Pawan Kalyan, as part of his second leg of visits to districts, would visit Machilipatnam to address people there.
Mr. Chiranjeevi regretted that he could address the huge crowd that waited for him at Koneru centre in the district headquarters for only 10 minutes, during his roadshow. It was a big disappointment for him, Mr. Chiranjeevi said at a press conference here, before leaving for Hyderabad, adding that his brother would pay a visit on his behalf.
The Praja Rajyam chief confirmed once again, in reply to a question, that Allu Aravind could contest from Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency if a decision was made that he should, indeed, contest in the general elections.
Mr. Chiranjeevi said he was overwhelmed by the response received on all the three days of his roadshows in Krishna district. The second leg of roadshows in the district would be finalised after the Vijaya Bheri public meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Denying that differences cropped up between him and party ideologue P. Mitra, Mr. Chiranjeevi said Mr. Mitra was working hard for the party by concentrating on selection of suitable candidates in the Telangana region.
Dig at NaiduMr. Chiranjeevi found fault with TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “derogatory” references to toddy tappers, and said TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s commitment to achieving separate Telangana stood exposed by his statement that the issue would not be included in the common minimum programme of the grand alliance.
PR aspirant launches campaign
Poll path: PR aspirant M.V. Muralidhar Reddy and his wife Uma canvassing in Proddatur on Saturday. KADAPA: Praja Rajyam aspirant for Proddatur Assembly constituency M.V. Muralidhar Reddy and his wife Uma launched campaign in Ammavarisala and Dargah Bazar Street and other areas on Saturday.
They offered prayers in Sri Kanyaka Parameswari temple and received the blessings of Vedic pandits.
Praja Rajyam will gain power as it has the patronage of Arya Vysyas and minorities in Proddatur, Mr. Muralidhar Reddy said.
PR State organising secretary Kovvuru Ramasubba Reddy, Arya Vysya Sabha president B. Ramamohana Rao, town president M. Pratap Reddy, K. Satyam, Lakshminarayana, Surendranath Reddy and Jaffer participated.
Praja Rajyam emerges as a third force
| Janga Krishna Murthy dropped from Gurazala, M. Hanumantha Rao denied ticket from Mangalagiri |
GUNTUR: Changed caste compositions among voters in Assembly constituencies after the delimitation and the emergence of a third force in the form of Praja Rajyam have made the political scenario challenging for the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party in the upcoming elections.
The fortunes of several MPs and MLAs of the Congress in the district are bound to alter as Tenali Lok Sabha, Kuchinapudi and Duggirala Assembly constituencies have been scrapped.
Reserving the Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency, Prattipadu and Vemuru for Scheduled Castes also impacted the political permutations.
Mangalagiri, Tenali and Ponnur Assembly segments have come into Guntur Lok Sabha constituency, while Chilakaluripet, Sattenapalle and Pedakurapadu (formerly in Guntur) have gone to Narsaraopet Lok Sabha constituency.
The Congress registered a landslide victory winning 18 out of the 19 Assembly constituencies in the district in 2004 elections, while the TDP made it only in Ponnur seat.
The Congress swept all the four Lok Sabha seats. The Congress high command cleared the air re-nominating Rayapati Sambasiva Rao from Guntur Lok Sabha seat and transferred NTR’s daughter and Union Minister Daggubati Purandeswari from Bapatla to Visakhapatnam. Vallabhaneni Balashourie has been given the Narasaraopet Lok Sabha seat, as Tenali Lok Sabha constituency was scrapped. Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy was shifted from Narasaraopet to Nellore.
Seat abolishedGudibandi Venkata Reddy was dropped as his Duggirala Assembly seat was abolished. The Congress nominated Chebrolu Narendranath from Vinukonda dropping the sitting legislator Makkena Mallikarjuna Rao, giving rise to serious bickering within the party.
Same is the case with Janga Krishna Murthy, who was dropped in Gurazala Assembly seat, from where Alla Venkateswara Rao was fielded. Repalle MLA Devineni Mallikarjuna Rao too was dumped to accommodate Minister M.V. Ramana Rao, while another Minister M. Hanumantha Rao was denied ticket from Mangalagiri.
Minister for Transport Kanna Lakshminarayana, who represented Pedakurapadu for four consecutive terms, has shifted base to Guntur (West), now represented by Tadisetty Venkata Rao, causing a heartburn to the Rayapatis and the sitting MLA’s camp.
Political veteran Kodela Sivaprasada Rao of the TDP, who represented Narasaropet Assembly constituency for five times in a row, may fight the sitting legislator and Civil Supplies Minister Kasu Krishna Reddy once again. Makineni Pedrathaiah, another five-time winner to the Assembly, is seeking TDP ticket from Guntur Lok Sabha constituency.
He would stoke rebellion, if the party doesn’t field him. Alapati Rajendra Prasad of the TDP, whose Vemur constituency is reserved for SCs, is pitching himself to contest from Tenali Assembly seat.
Unfulfilled promisesSpiralling prices, alleged mismanagement of fertilizer supply, unfulfilled promises to chilli farmers may work against the ruling party, while its leaders are harping on satisfied pensioners, Arogyasri beneficiaries, 108 service, Indiramma housing clubbed with ‘Pavala Vaddi’ work in its favour.
Film director ‘ends life’ in hotel room
HYDERABAD: Film director Raja Aditya Tambi committed suicide by hanging in his room at Hotel Basera in Secunderabad, the police said on Saturday. His latest Telugu movie ‘Malli Malli’ was released on Saturday.
Motive behind his death is not yet known, the Gopalapuram police station Inspector, B. Muralidhar, told reporters. No suicide note was found in the room. Tambi checked into room no. 305 of the hotel, 10 days ago. He used to go out in the morning and return by 8 p.m.
As usual, he returned to the room on Friday night. An assistant director, Sriman, along with a car driver, came to the hotel to pick him up for a film shoot around 9 a.m. on Saturday. As there was no response despite repeatedly knocking on the doors, they alerted the hotel staff who opened the doors with a duplicate key only to see the director’s body hanging from the ceiling fan. “He hanged himself with bed linen,” the Inspector said. Thirty-eight-year-old Tambi, whose original name is Rajakumaran Tambi, is son of Malayalam film producer and director, Sreekumaran Tambi. Born in Kerala, Aditya grew up in Chennai and worked under director Priyadarshan for four years.
‘Pourudu’He acted as child artiste in some Malayalam films and later worked as assistant to several eminent directors in Bollywood before beginning his career in Telugu film industry. He began his career in Telugu films by directing ‘Ishtam’ produced by Usha Kiran Movies. He shot into fame by directing another film ‘Pourudu’ starring Sumanth and Kajal.
Redeem Telugu pride, NTR Jr. tells people
Kakinada: Junior NTR called upon the people to redeem Telugu pride by bringing TDP to power in the coming general elections. The TDP’s victory would also spell the end of misrule of Congress which did nothing except filling its coffers.
Speaking at a roadshow at Sarpavaram Junction in Kakinada on Friday, Mr. NTR said TDP was the best bet for people who wanted welfare and good governance and exhorted them to teach a lesson to the ruling dispensation which never cared for their well-being. Unlike the Congress, TDP was committed to deliver its promises and people should give it a chance to do that.
The Congress party has failed on all fronts and no other party offered a credible alternative to it, which strengthens the case to elect TDP, he asserted and suggested to people to see the ground realities while casting their votes.
Chiru(s) galore
HYDERABAD: Alleging ‘match-fixing’ between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Opposition Leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi on Saturday said they were only hoodwinking people to keep power between themselves.
Addressing a mammoth ‘Praja Vijaya Bheri’ rally at the Parade Grounds here, he said the two leaders who were criticising each other all day, became good friends by night. “And the only thing they have in common was ‘corruption’, although of different magnitudes. After all, they are from the same school [Congress],” he said.
Chiru(s) galore
PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU
drawing attention: Masks of Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi being used as campaign material at ’Praja Vijaya Bheri’ public meeting in the city on Saturday.
Dhoni’s men end 33-year drought
SPINS INDIA TO WIN: Harbhajan Singh proved a point against the Kiwis in the first Test at Hamilton. Chennai: India scored one of its most significant Test victories on Saturday as it beat the Kiwis in New Zealand after 33 years. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men defeated the host by 10 wickets on the fourth day of the first Test at Hamilton to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Harbhajan Singh’s six for 63 – the off-spinner’s 23rd five-wicket haul in Tests – ensured there would be no comebacks for New Zealand. Having conceded a 241-run lead in the first innings, the Kiwis were dismissed for 279.
India took just 32 balls to reach the target of 39; Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 30 and Rahul Dravid on 8. India is seeking its first Test series triumph in New Zealand since 1968.
Skipper Dhoni said: “If we can win the series, that will be the best gift the team gives to Sachin [Tendulkar] and Rahul [Dravid].”
Maestro Tendulkar was adjudged Man of the Match for his influential 160 in the first innings. “It’s great to play with Sachin. Whenever he scores those big hundreds, you cannot see anything better,” said Dhoni.
He rated Harbhajan among the best spinners in world cricket. “He got us important wickets at the right time,” said Dhoni.
Earlier, New Zealand resumed at 75 for three and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals at Seddon Park. Only the left-handed Daniel Flynn (67) and the aggressive wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum (84) offered a measure of resistance.
