Amaravati: The race for Rajya Sabha seats in the biennial election in Andhra Pradesh, slated for June 10, took an interesting turn on Sunday with the Adani group debunking reports that either Gautam Adani or his wife Priti would be given a seat.For several months, there has been speculation among political circles in Amaravati that Priti Adani was most likely to be given one of the four Rajya Sabha seats on behalf of the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress (YSRC).The Adani group has been executing various projects in the state and Gautam Adani had personal interaction with YSRC president and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on a few recent occasions, triggering the speculation.The group, however, issued a statement on Sunday saying such reports were 'blatantly false'.'It is unfortunate to see vested interests dragging our name into such speculative media reports. Neither Gautam Adani or Priti Adani nor any member of the Adani family has interest in a political career or in joining any political group,' the statement said.Interestingly, the Adani statement gave rise to fresh talk about a new prospective candidate -- another industrialist Chalamalasetti Sunil, who joined the YSRC after unsuccessfully contesting the Kakinada Lok Sabha seat as Telugu Desam Party nominee in 2019.Sunil's Greenko Energy is executing an integrated renewable energy storage project in Kurnool district, touted to be the first-of-its-kind in the world.Incidentally, Jagan will be visiting the project on May 17.Given the caste calculations, the choice may fall on Sunil, now that Adani is no longer in the race, YSRC sources noted.Rumour mills had the name of another big businessman from Telangana in circulation, as he is close to Jagan, but his name also did the rounds as a prospective candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party from another state.If these two business bigwigs are not considered, there is a long list of aspirants within the YSRC for a Rajya Sabha seat.With a strength of 151 MLAs of its own, and supported by four rebels of opposition TDP and Jana Sena, the YSRC will comfortably win all four Rajya Sabha seats that fall vacant in June, a gain of three.YSRC Parliamentary Party leader V Vijayasai Reddy, one of the four due to retire, is set be re-nominated.For two other seats, the names of Killi Kriparani, former Union Minister of State, and Beeda Mastan Rao are said to be under consideration. Both belong to the backward classes, with Kriparani having the added advantage of being a woman.The YSRC has so far not nominated a woman for Rajya Sabha and the gender has currently no representation from the State in the Upper House of Parliament."So Kriparani should be a natural choice," a senior YSRC leader pointed out.Notification for the biennial election will be issued on May 24 and the last date for filing nominations is May 31.As the chief minister is set to embark on a 10-day official-cum-private trip to Europe from May 20, YSRC leaders expect him to finalise the Rajya Sabha candidates before flying off.In all probability, the election could be an unanimous affair as the TDP, with just 20 MLAs, does not stand any chance.The YSRC's strength in the Council of States will swell to nine after the biennial election.The TDP and the BJP will be left with only one Rajya Sabha member each.—PTI

The race for Rajya Sabha seats in the biennial election in Andhra Pradesh, slated for June 10, took an interesting turn on Sunday with the Adani group debunking reports that either Gautam Adani or his wife Priti would be given a seat.

Adanis deny being in the race for Rajya Sabha

Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), headed by the Chief Secretary, to prepare and operationalise the State Master Plan in line with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).In December last year, the Centre asked the states to put in place an institutional set-up for operationalising PM-Gati Shakti and now the AP government has acted on it.Besides preparing the State Master Plan, the EGoS has been tasked with the responsibility of providing actionable programme strategies to align the state with the National Logistics Policy.The State Master Plan would be submitted to the Centre seeking support (for implementation).In an order issued on May 9, the Chief Secretary said the EGoS would ensure implementation of the decisions of the Central Advisory Committee on Logistics, identify gaps and advise the government on formulation of policies, programmes and legislation.The EGoS has to set out a procedure and a definitive timeframe for synchronising various activities for construction of roads and railways, along with all utility services in an area-based approach for infrastructure development on a pilot basis, the Chief Secretary said.It would also review and monitor implementation of the PM-Gati Shakti NMP to ascertain the logistics efficiency.The EGoS will have 17 members and a special invitee.The state government also constituted a Network Planning Group, with the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation managing director as coordinator and comprising various heads of departments, to draft specific action plans (of the respective departments) for the period 2022-25 for holistic development of a region.The NPG would focus on reducing logistics costs through a detailed micro-plan.The NPG would refer projects that require synchronisation, or changes in the PM-Gati Shakti NMP, to the EGoS for approval, the Chief Secretary added.—PTI

The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), headed by the Chief Secretary, to prepare and operationalise the State Master Plan in line with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).

AP forms EGoS for operationalising PM-Gati Shakti

Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh): A mysterious gold-coloured chariot washed ashore at Sunnapalli Sea Harbour in Andhra's Srikakulam district on Tuesday amid the impact of cyclone Asani in the area.The people on the shore were seen dragging the chariot out of the water and bringing it to the shore.SI of Naupada (Srikakulam district) said that the intelligence department has been informed about the incident."It might have come from another country. We have informed Intelligence and higher officials," the SI said. Earlier today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the severe Cyclonic Storm 'Asani' weakened into a 'cyclonic storm' and is likely to become a depression by Thursday morning.Cyclone Asani continues to disrupt the flight operations in Andhra's Visakhapatnam and Tamil Nadu's Chennai as all IndiGo flights were cancelled on Wednesday morning—ANI &nbsp;

 A mysterious gold-coloured chariot washed ashore at Sunnapalli Sea Harbour in Andhra's Srikakulam district on Tuesday amid the impact of cyclone Asani in the area.

Mysterious gold-coloured chariot washes ashore in Andhra's Srikakulam

&nbsp;Kakinada: Amid cyclone Asani, rain lashes parts of the Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday morning.Earlier on Tuesday, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena said that cyclone Asani is likely to reach Kakinada on the Andhra coast on Wednesday morning."The cyclonic storm Asani is moving from West Central Bay of Bengal towards North Andhra coast and as per estimation, the cyclone is likely to reach Kakinada of Andhra coast tomorrow morning," While on Tuesday, a senior Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official said that a heavy to very heavy rainfall warning has been issued along with the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh in the wake of cyclone Asani.Telangana's Nalgonda, Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mulugu districts are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall.The officials had said that cyclone Asani has changed its direction and is going to touch the nearby Kakinada coast. After touching the Kakinada coast, it will come again to sea between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam."Heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings have been issued along with the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana's Nalgonda, Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mulugu districts are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall," Dr Nagaratna, head, Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad, had told&nbsp;ANI.The weather office officials had earlier said that light to moderate rain or thundershowers is likely to occur at a few places of Telangana due to the cyclone Asani."Heavy to very heavy rains warnings have been issued along with coastal Andhra Pradesh districts. Telangana is likely to have the impact of the cyclonic storm in adjoining districts. Nalgonda, Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mulugu are likely to receive light to moderate rains. At times heavy rains are expected," Nagaratna had said.The officials had said that the southern districts of Telangana are likely to receive light to moderate rains.They had said that Hyderabad is likely to experience light rains in the next 24 hours and cloudy conditions would persist for the next 48 hours.—ANI

Amid cyclone Asani, rain lashes parts of the Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday morning.

Rain lashes Kakinada as Cyclone Asani changes track

Visakhapatnam: Severe cyclonic storm 'Asani' in the Bay of Bengal has hit flight operations with several airlines canceling flights in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam and Tamil Nadu's Chennai on Tuesday.The Met Department has predicted light to moderate rainfall across parts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with the probability of the severe cyclonic storm 'Asani' recurving.Visakhapatnam International Airport director Srinivas said that IndiGo has cancelled 23 flights, both arrivals, and departures, citing bad weather."Four Air Asia flights also stand cancelled due to bad weather at Vizag for the day," he added.As per the Chennai Airport Authority, information regarding cancellation was conveyed to the passengers yesterday.Duty Officer at the Cyclone Warning Centre of Visakhapatnam, Kumar said that severe cyclonic storm Asani is over the west-central region and the adjoining southwest region of Bay of Bengal."It is 330 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam Likely to move further northwest till tonight, thereafter it'll recurve," he added.Further, Kumar informed that rainfall is likely over northern Andhra Pradesh including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicted rainfall and strong winds for three states; Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal."It is very likely to move nearly northwestwards till May 10 night and reach Westcentral Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coast and adjoining Odisha coast.Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during the next the 24 hours," the IMD said.The Met department has predicted light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha from today evening.For tomorrow, May 11, the IMD predicted light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha and adjoining coastal West Bengal.Gale wind speed reaching 95-105 km per hour gusting to 115 km per hour is prevailing around the system centre over Westcentral and adjoining the southwest Bay of Bengal. "It would gradually decrease becoming 80-90 km per hour gusting to 100 km per hour over Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal from the evening.Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast," IMD said. During the past six hours, the severe cyclonic storm 'Asani', over Westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 7 km per hour during past six hours and lay centre today over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal at 330 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 350 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 510 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 590 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), informed IMD—ANI

 Severe cyclonic storm 'Asani' in the Bay of Bengal has hit flight operations with several airlines canceling flights in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam and Tamil Nadu's Chennai on Tuesday.