Naidu brushes aside astrologer's advice on ceremony for capital

Not long ago, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s personal astrologer Srinivasa Gargeya had warned him not to perform Bhumi Puja for construction on state capital Amaravati on Saturday.

He had warned that the month of Jyestha was not good for such a crucial programme, and wanted the TDP leader to wait for four more months, till Kaartheekam after Dussehra. Gargeya has also warned Naidu that any efforts to perform Bhumi Puja on Saturday will bring him troubles, which include loss of face due to unanticipated incidents and several hurdles on the path of completion of the project.

However, Naidu has openly stated he believes more in hard work than the stars, and will perform the ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, and hold a public meeting (Maha Sankalpam) on Monday on the completion of a year in office.

Gargeya was not consulted on these events.While the cash-for-vote issue in Telangana involving party MLA Revanth Reddy has dented Naidu’s image, the Election Commission (EC) announced a schedule for an election to the Upper House in the state from the Assembly constituency, putting the government in a dilemma.

The poll code came into effect from June 2. The government then sought the EC's permission to conduct both programmes for the capital. “We have told the EC both the programmes were fixed a long time ago and there is no other auspicious date for another six months,” said state government advisor Parakala Prabhakar. The government heaved a sigh of relief and gave the Guntur collector the go-ahead to perform the ground-breaking ceremony at the Mandadam village in the district.

However, the foundation ceremony for AP Agricultural University in Guntur was postponed indefinitely.

The EC, while granting permission, asked the government not to make any announcement that violates the poll code.  Astrologers have now reiterated that the 8:49 am “muhurtam” on Saturday is the reason for all the aberrations. At least two other prominent Sidanthis, including Gundu Satyanarayana, have found fault with the June 6 date.  “It is a Saturday and also Chavithi. It is not good to start a major event in the life of the state. It is not good for the landlord, in this case the chief minister,” said Jonnalagadda Jaganmohan Rao a prominent astrologer in the Krishna district.