Naidu, KCR Both Skip Governor's I-Day Party

The Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan this evening hosted an "At Home" at Raj Bhavan, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Almost every political party's leaders attended the event, as did some top Union ministers.

However, the Chief Ministers of both the two Telugu states, K Chandrashekar Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu, skipped the program.

When asked about it, the Governor said that there must be some reason for their absence, "but I do not know the reason". Probably Naidu was busy with the Pattiseema project and KCR was busy with something else, he opined. The comments heightened speculation about the relationships between him and the CMs - rumours are that neither CM is happy with Narasimhan.

The Governor who went around the tables of the invitees and wished them cordially had a brief interaction with the scribes.

Asked whether the event had lost its charm due to their absence, Narasimhan replied in tongue-in-cheek fashion, "Why do you think so? I am charming enough!"

On a more serious note, Narasimhan said that neither of the CMs had any difference with him, and that till his last day in Hyderabad, he would be available to both the CMs.

"Things will fall in line, and let us not draw any conclusions," he added rather ambiguously.

The cynosure on the occasion was former minister Danam Nagender touching the feet of the Governor.

Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud, Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Sujana Chowdary, leaders from the Congress, BJP, Telugu Desam Party and the Left parties, and other dignitaries turned up.