AMARAVATI, May 4: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president PVN Madhav on Monday conveyed his birthday greetings to Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan, describing his rise from an ordinary party worker to the country's second-highest constitutional office as a reflection of his exceptional qualities and commitment to public life.

In a statement released on the occasion, Mr. Madhav said that Mr. Radhakrishnan's journey was an inspiration for generations to come, and that his long years of political experience had been marked by unstinting dedication to the welfare of the people. He said the Vice-President's contributions to public life would be remembered for years to come.

Mr. Madhav expressed his wish that the Vice-President enjoy good health and happiness, and conveyed his hope that the country would achieve greater progress and development under his guidance and leadership.

TIRUPATI DISTRICT, Varadayapalem, May 4: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president PVN Madhav on Monday called upon every party cadre to work with dedication and a spirit of service towards strengthening the party's organisation in the State, speaking as the chief guest at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan programme held in Varadayapalem mandal of Tirupati district.

The training programme provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the party's founding principles, ideology, and its commitment to the goal of Antyodaya — the upliftment of the last person in society.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. PVN Madhav said the Antyodaya principle propounded by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya served as the guiding light for BJP governance. He stated that the welfare of the weakest and most marginalised section of society was the primary objective of the government, and that the Central government was implementing a wide range of welfare schemes in pursuit of that goal. Ensuring equal opportunities for every section of society in the country's development journey was the BJP's core mission, he added.

Mr. Madhav said the country was making progress across all sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with people extending their support to the government's transparent administration, national security initiatives, and development programmes. He urged party cadre to remain firmly committed to the party's ideology and to deepen their connect with the people at the grassroots level.

The State president emphasised that training programmes such as this one were invaluable in strengthening the BJP's organisational base in Andhra Pradesh, and reiterated his call for every cadre member to work with a sense of mission and service. He reaffirmed the party's unwavering commitment to addressing the problems faced by the people.

A large number of party leaders and cadre attended the programme.

Srikalahasti, May 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and cadres celebrated the party’s performance in the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, at Srikalahasti under the leadership of Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Madhav said the results reflected the people’s continued support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He noted that the BJP had secured a clear majority in Assam, Puducherry and West Bengal, and described the outcome in West Bengal as particularly significant.

Referring to the ideological roots of the party, Mr. Madhav said West Bengal shared a historical connection with BJP’s founding ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The party’s success in his home State had enthused cadres across the country, he added.

Mr. Madhav congratulated party leaders and workers for their efforts, stating that the BJP’s growth was also evident in States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the party had registered a notable increase in vote share.

He said the results underscored public support for development, national security and transparent governance. Welfare initiatives of the Union government, infrastructure expansion and digital progress had received widespread appreciation, he observed.

Mr. Madhav attributed the victory to the support of youth, women, farmers and the middle class. He affirmed that efforts would continue to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh and reiterated the BJP’s commitment to addressing public issues.

Calling for unity, he urged citizens to work together towards the nation’s development.

VIJAYAWADA, May 4: Andhra Pradesh Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday said the BJP's strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections signalled the end of what he described as a regime that fomented religious hatred, issued voter identity cards to illegal infiltrators, and deprived the poor of their rightful entitlements.

Reacting to the election results, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the people of Bengal had blessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his commitment to regional development, basic infrastructure, and wealth creation for ordinary citizens. The BJP's victory, he said, was proof of the people's faith in the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The Minister said the NDA coalition was now poised to usher in successive terms in governance, breaking what he called the earlier assumption that a second consecutive victory was near impossible. He noted that in several States where the NDA was in power, the alliance had been consistently fulfilling its electoral promises.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the government would identify, delete, and deport illegal infiltrators, invoking what he described as the BJP's three-point slogan of "Detect, Delete, Deport." He said the party would continue to consolidate its presence across States on the strength of this agenda.

Underlining the party's inclusive development philosophy, the Minister cited Prime Minister Modi's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" commitment as evidence that no region or community would be left behind. He reiterated that the people's trust in the BJP's ideology remained firm and that the party's win in Assam further reinforced this confidence.

VIJAYAWADA, May 4: BJP leaders and cadre in Vijayawada broke into celebrations on Monday following the party's dominant performance in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, with Union Minister Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma joining the festivities by distributing sweets among party workers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Srinivas Varma described the results as historic, noting that while retaining power in Assam and Puducherry was itself significant, the gains made in West Bengal marked a watershed moment in the party's political journey. He pointed out that the BJP had not held a single MLA seat in West Bengal in 2011, went on to win 70 seats in 2021, and was now advancing towards the 200-seat mark — a trajectory he said was a testament to the growing trust of the people in the party.

The Union Minister alleged that the previous government's tenure in West Bengal was marked by violence and misappropriation of Central welfare schemes. He said that despite attacks during polling, the people of the State had stood firm and extended their support to the BJP, reflecting their resolve for change.

Mr. Srinivas Varma noted that it was particularly meaningful for the BJP to have grown in the home State of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, underlining the party's commitment to the development of Bengal. He recalled Mookerjee's contributions to the cause of uniform laws and national unity.

The Minister expressed confidence that West Bengal would be at the forefront of development in the coming years and that the BJP's expansion would continue in other States as well. He attributed the victories to the sustained efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party leadership, and the dedicated work of the cadre on the ground.

GUNTUR: Bharatiya Janata Party cadre in Guntur broke into celebrations on Monday following the party's victory in three of the five States that went to the polls, with the win in West Bengal — the first time the BJP has come to power in the State — drawing particular jubilation among the ranks.

The celebrations were held at Vajpayee Circle in Lakshmipuram Centre under the leadership of district president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao. Party cadre garlanded the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and paid floral tributes before bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tirupati Rao said the victories, particularly in West Bengal, were the fruit of the sacrifices made by the party cadre over the years. He noted that the BJP's third consecutive win in Assam and second in Puducherry had further consolidated public trust in the party. The results, he said, reflected popular endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision.

Senior leader Jupudi Rangaraju said the BJP had risen steadily in West Bengal to script history. He described it as remarkable that the party, which had negligible representation in the State not long ago, had now secured a decisive mandate. The failures of the outgoing government and its development deficit had been decisively reflected in the people's verdict, he added.

State party spokesperson Darshanpu Srinivas said celebrations were under way across the country and that those who had worked against the interests of the people had been taught a lesson by the electorate. He expressed confidence that the party would secure an even larger majority in elections to come.

Among those present at the event were Yadlapati Swarupa Rani, Kothuru Venkata Subbarao, Eedara Srinivas Reddy, Kokkera Srinivas Yadav, Palapati Ravi Kumar, Velagaleti Gangadhar, YV Subbarao, Charaka Kumar Goud, Bajrang Ramakrishna, Desu Satyanarayana, Naddi Nagamalleswari Yadav, Kayithi Pradeep Reddy, Chaganti Hari Pavani, Mekala Lakshman, Jandhyala Ramalinga Sastry, Rachumalla Bhaskar, Mantri Suguna, Katti Mary Sarojini, Kristipati Narayana Reddy, Tunga Yashwant, Korra Sreenu Naik, Sheikh Sambasiva Rao, Dara Ambedkar, Anumolu Edukondala Goud, Kola Renuka Devi, Vani Venkat, Swapna, Venkatesh Yadav, Pothu Raju Venkat, Thanga Lakshmanrao, Ravula Rajasekhar, Segu Venkata Naresh, Mallala Lakshman Goud, Kanchерla Rajesh, Suresh, Durga Prasad, Purushottam, Gouse Pira, Jitendra Gupta, Padmanabham, Karam Shetty Ramesh, Praveen and others.

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to hold extensive programmes across the State to mark the International Yoga Day on June 21, with Minister for Medical and Health Satya Kumar Yadav chairing a preparatory meeting with AYUSH officials at the department's headquarters here on Monday evening.

Addressing officials at the meeting, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav directed that awareness about the importance of yoga be deepened among the public at large. He instructed officials to actively involve students, government employees, and members of Yoga associations, Rotary clubs, Lions clubs, and other civil society organisations in the planned events.

The Minister also suggested convening a dedicated meeting with yoga trainers across the State to solicit their inputs on the conduct of the programmes, and emphasised that the activities must build substantively on those held last year.

A State-level event of considerable scale is proposed to be organised in Amaravati under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and officials were asked to prepare proposals accordingly. District-level Yoga Day programmes are to be conducted under the leadership of respective Collectors.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav noted that educational institutions are expected to reopen from the second week of June, following the summer vacation, and said that promoting awareness about yoga among students at that stage would yield wide-ranging benefits. He added that such initiatives would also contribute to the realisation of the State government's vision of Swarna Andhra Pradesh.

Report on last year's impact sought

The Minister enquired specifically into the scale and impact of programmes held on the occasion of International Yoga Day last year and directed AYUSH In-charge Commissioner Ronankhi Gopalkrishna to prepare a detailed report on the same.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Mantena Satyanarayana Raju, State Government Adviser on Yoga and Naturopathy, offered several important suggestions on the precautions and measures needed to effectively build public awareness through yoga and allied programmes.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav is expected to hold another round of discussions with officials shortly on the conduct of the Yoga Day events, and will also consult Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the matter.

GUNTUR, May 3: The BJP district executive committee met on Sunday at Vajpayee Bhavan, the party's district office, under the chairmanship of district president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao, to deliberate on forthcoming programmes and the conduct of a district-level training camp.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Tirupati Rao announced that a two-day district-level training programme would be held on May 16 and 17 at VVIT College in Namburu, Guntur district. State-level party leaders will participate and conduct sessions on a range of subjects. He also directed party workers to hoist the BJP flag in every village and ward under the 'Mana Ooru – Mana Jenda' (Our Village – Our Flag) programme.

Booth-level outreach and voter data collection

Mr. Tirupati Rao called for the effective implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme across the district. He instructed that BLA-2s be constituted at all polling booths within the district and that they work alongside Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to collect comprehensive voter data — including details of where voters currently reside, the duration of their stay, and the State from which they have migrated.

Training pivotal to party building, says coordinator

Rampalli Jagannadha Sastri, district coordinator for the training programme, said that such instructional camps are critical to strengthening the party's organisational structure. He noted that mandal-level training had already been completed, and the district-level two-day programme would build further on that foundation. He urged participants to observe discipline, deepen their understanding of party ideology, and effectively communicate it to workers at the grassroots. He added that sessions by invited speakers would offer valuable learning across multiple areas of party functioning.

The meeting was attended by Jupudi Rangaraju, Kothuri Venkata Subbarao, Bhimineni Chandrasekhar, CH Yashwanth, Darshanapу Srinivas, Yadlapati Swaroopa Rani, Kokkera Srinivas Yadav, Jaggarapu Srinivasarao, Palaapati Ravi Kumar, Charaka Kumar Goud, Taduvai Ramakrishna, Bajrang Ramakrishna, Kuddus, and Brahmaiah, along with district office-bearers, morcha presidents, general secretaries, mandal presidents, and executive committee members.

VIJAYAWADA, May 3: Persons with disabilities are in no way inferior to their colleagues in the discharge of official duties, and with the resolution of minor workplace difficulties and provision of adequate opportunities, they can demonstrate even greater capability — this was the assertion of Andhra Pradesh NGGО State president A. Vidyasagar at the election of the new executive committee of the Andhra Pradesh Hearing Handicapped Employees Association (APHHEA), Amaravati, held on Sunday.

The elections were conducted at the AP NGO Home in Gandhinagar, Vijayawada, where a 17-member executive committee was returned unopposed.

Addressing the newly elected members, Mr. Vidyasagar said the AP NGGО has consistently worked towards the welfare of employees with diverse abilities and the redressal of their grievances, with particular attention to securing their rights. He added that improving communication facilities and workplace infrastructure in government offices would directly enhance the performance and productivity of hearing-impaired employees. He also noted that the government remains committed to the advancement and well-being of employees with disabilities.

New executive committee

The election results were formally declared by returning officer and AP NGGО State general secretary A. Ranjith Kumar Naidu. Acknowledgements were extended to election observers L. Rajanish Babu and assistant returning officer Ashok Babu.

The following were elected unanimously for a three-year term: V. Kumar (president), A. Venkat Reddy (associate president), A. Kanna (general secretary), and SK. Imam Khasim (treasurer). The vice-presidents elected are Ch. Ravi Kumar, P.H. Sriramudu, M. Ravi Durgaprasad, and K. Satyanarayana. M. Shiva Naga Santhosh was elected executive secretary. R. Srinivasarao, P. Lakshmi, M. Vijaya Prasad, and D. Sathish were elected joint secretaries, while T.T. Durgaprasad, V. Deva Rajulu, G. Srinivasarao, and S. Kishor were elected as secretaries.

The returning officer expressed confidence that the new committee would work tirelessly for the welfare of hearing-impaired government employees across the State.

AMARAVATI, May 3: BJP State president PVN Madhav on Sunday described press freedom as a vital pillar of democratic governance, asserting that society can progress meaningfully only when the freedom to speak truth without fear is upheld.

In a statement issued on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Mr. Madhav said the media bears a cardinal responsibility to bring to light the injustices, corruption, and inequalities prevalent in society, and commended journalists who discharge that responsibility with commitment and integrity.

He noted that the press plays an indispensable role as a bridge between the people and the government, carrying public grievances to the attention of those in authority.

Fact-checking and ethical values more critical than ever

Acknowledging the accelerated pace of information in the digital age, Mr. Madhav cautioned that the need for fact verification, ethical standards, and accountable journalism has grown correspondingly greater. He warned that the spread of misinformation and rumour poses a serious threat to social fabric, and emphasised that retaining public trust is the foremost duty of the media.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to an enabling environment for the press, Mr. Madhav said protecting press freedom is a collective responsibility and that journalists must be able to practise their profession without intimidation or coercion. He expressed the view that a stronger press translates directly into a stronger democracy.

Extending greetings to journalists working with integrity and courage, Mr. Madhav urged the media to advance with greater responsibility in the service of public good.

EAST GODAVARI, May 3: BJP State president PVN Madhav stressed that people's participation is central to national progress and that development at the village level is the foundation upon which the State and the country must advance, speaking at the 'Mana Ooru – Mana Jenda' (Our Village – Our Flag) programme held at Pangidigodem village in Dwaraka Tirumala mandal of East Godavari district.

Mr. Madhav unfurled the party flag on the occasion, which was organised under the chairmanship of mandal president Chilaka Veeraswamy.

Addressing party workers and villagers, Mr. Madhav called upon every cadre member to work diligently towards strengthening the party at the grassroots level. He urged workers to carry the Central government's welfare and development schemes to the people, asserting that doing so would deepen public trust in the party.

Underlining the collective responsibility of the cadre, Mr. Madhav said it was incumbent upon workers to take the party's ideology and objectives to every household, and that only through united effort could the organisation be strengthened. He added that identifying the problems faced by people and working towards their resolution would further consolidate confidence in the party.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from villagers and party workers in large numbers, contributing to what organisers described as a successful conduct of the programme.

GUNTUR, May 3: The second batch of a free skill development and competitive examination training programme, conducted under the aegis of Krishna-Guntur Graduates' constituency MLC Alapati Rajendra Prasad, is set to commence on May 13 at the MLC office premises on Lakshmipuram Main Road, adjacent to HDFC Bank, in Guntur.

The initiative, aimed at improving employment prospects for unemployed graduates in the region, builds on the momentum of its first batch, whose participants successfully appeared in recruitment examinations conducted by prominent organisations. Results of those examinations are awaited.

Encouraged by the response to the first batch, Mr. Alapati announced the launch of the second batch to extend the opportunity to a larger number of aspirants.

Structured for competitive examinations

The training curriculum has been specifically designed to equip candidates to face recruitment examinations conducted by Central government departments and public sector undertakings. Candidates who have completed their Intermediate or degree-level education are eligible to apply at no cost.

Online registration will open on May 5, 2026, through a QR code. An online entrance examination will be held on May 10, following which selected candidates will be admitted to the training programme beginning May 13.

For further details, interested candidates may contact 73374 59888 or 95536 81118.

On the occasion, Mr. Alapati unveiled the programme poster in the presence of Kishore, director of Vijayasadhana Coaching Centre, and Pidikiti Tilak Babu, Executive Director of NRI Educational Institutions.

Addressing aspirants, the MLC appealed to unemployed youth to make productive use of the free training and secure a firm footing in their careers.