Telangana, Andhra CMs hug each other

Chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who usually miss no opportunity to target each other, Sunday displayed bonhomie on coming face to face and hugged each other.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu came face to face at "Allai Ballai" or a get-together organized by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bandaru Dattatreya here.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, was leaving the venue after his speech when he bumped into his bate noire. At Dattatreya's request, the two chief ministers hugged each other thrice in a traditional manner.

E. S. L. Narasimhan, who is serving as governor of the two states, also attended the programme. The governor, who brought the two chief ministers for their first formal meeting last month to sort out various issues, stressed the need for cordial relations between the two Telugu states. He said the two states can develop and prosper with mutual cooperation.

The Telangana chief minister praised Dattatreya for organizing the annual event, which brings together leaders of political parties on one platform and depicts the rich culture of Telangana.

Chandrababu Naidu, in his speech, said despite the bifurcation of the state, Telugu people will always remain united. He expressed his best wishes for the prosperity of people of both the states.