KCR invites Naidu for 'Ayutha Chandi Yagam'

In a rare meeting against the backdrop of a strained relationship, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao called on his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu here today and invited him to the 'Ayutha Chandi Yagam'.
Rao, accompanied by Telangana Finance Minister E Rajender and TRS MP Balka Suman, flew in here in a chopper from Hyderabad this afternoon.
Rao was received among others by Andhra Pradesh ministers Yanamala RamaKrishnudu and was then driven to Naidu's residence at Undavalli village near here.
Naidu welcomed Rao, who invited him to the 'Ayutha Chandi Yagam' to be performed at his farm house in Medak district, neighbouring Hyderabad from December 23 to December 27.

Rao left for Hyderabad after lunch.
"Rao invited him (Naidu) on December 27, the last day of the 'Yagam'. Rao also said President (Pranab Mukherjee) is coming on that day. Talks between them were held in a cordial atmosphere. They discussed development-related issues of both states. The talks were held towards cooperating for development," AP Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu told reporters.

There was no other specific agenda to the meeting, he said.
Rao and Naidu, whose TRS and TDP respectively are bitter political rivals, had a sour relationship in the wake of an acrimonious bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh last year.

The issues of sharing power, water and others following state's division further strained the relationship. The ties between the two leaders came under further strain over the cash-for-vote scandal and allegations of phone tapping at the behest of Telangana government made by AP government. Some TDP MLAs in Telangana switched loyalty to the ruling TRS.
Rao was in TDP led by Naidu before forming the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2001.
The ice was broken after Naidu personally invited Rao to the foundation laying ceremony for AP's capital city Amaravati held in October this year.
Not only did Rao attend the event, but promised cooperation in building the capital city.

Naidu and Rao bumped into each other at an event in Delhi last week and both wished each other.