IANS | 18 Jun, 2024
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday arrived at
the State Secretariat here to a warm welcome by his Cabinet colleagues and
officials.
On his first visit to the Secretariat after being appointed as Deputy
Chief Minister, the actor-politician made a courtesy call on Chief Minister
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Naidu welcomed Pawan Kalyan by hugging him and offering a bouquet. He
also visited his chambers in the Secretariat.
Pawan Kalyan, who has been allocated the portfolios of Panchayati Raj,
Rural Development & Rural Water Supply; Environment, Forest, and
Science & Technology, will assume office on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by two other ministers from Jana Sena – Nadendla
Manohar and Kandula Durgesh.
The Jana Sena leader was earlier accorded a warm welcome on arrival in
Amaravati. Farmers of Amaravati village, Jana Sena workers, and fans greeted
Pawan Kalyan by showering petals. It was like a roadshow as the Deputy Chief
Minister, who was standing in a car and looking out of the sunroof, responded
to the grand welcome by waving at the crowd. He was garlanded by deploying a
crane.
Amaravati farmers, who are elated with the new hopes of construction of
the state capital following the formation of the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP government,
had accorded a similar welcome to Chandrababu Naidu last week when he was
heading to the Secretariat to assume office.
Pawan Kalyan had backed the Amaravati farmers during their protest after
the previous government of the YSR Congress Party had decided to develop three
state capitals.
Earlier, the Jana Sena leader was accorded a rousing reception on his
arrival at Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada. This was his first visit after
taking oath on June 12. He later visited a government building in Vijayawada,
which will be his camp office (official residence). Pawan Kalyan will reside on
the upper floor while the ground floor will serve as his office. There is also
a meeting hall abutting his office.
He suggested a few changes in the premises and left for Jana Sena's head
office.
In the recent elections, the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance stormed to power
with a landslide majority. The alliance won 164 Assembly seats in the
175-member House. The alliance bagged 21 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.
The Jana Sena won all 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested.
The party was given three Cabinet berths. Manohar is the Minister for Food
& Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs while Durgesh will look after
Tourism, Culture & Cinematography.