What would have been the memorable day for former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu went unnoticed by many except himself.
It was on October 22 in 2015, Chandrababu Naidu, as the chief minister, conducted a second grand function in Amaravati, in the name of new capital. Earlier, he performed bhoomi Pooja for the capital on June 6, 2015.
The second important function, foundation ceremony, was conducted on October 22, 2015, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, formally laying foundation.
Between Bhumi Pooja and foundation, Chandrababu Naidu and his TDP ranks created a massive drama across the world, bringing soil and water from various places of worship.
Soil and water were collected from across the State, besides the holy places around the world by Naidu’s supporters. That was given much hype attaching some sentiments and the government spending huge money for the event.
Narendra Modi was expected to come with some announcement, particularly the special category status (SCS) to the state and some financial benefits. But, he also came with some soil from Parliament and water from river Ganges in Delhi.
Modi did not make any mention of the SCS and surprisingly, Naidu did not ask for it. Later, Naidu said he forgot to ask for it. That was how the SCS was buried.
There was TS chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as special guest at the function. It was organised like a family function with Naidu’s wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson stealing the show.
No local representative, forget about the representatives of opposition parties, were involved in the event.
The then Opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy boycotted the event as invitation was sent to him by the ministers, while Naidu himself personally invited TS chief minister KCR on October 19, 2015.
Two days before, Naidu sent his ministers Ch Ayyannapatrudu and Kamineni Srinivas to invite Jagan, who did not open his gate to receive the invitation.
Four years later, things have changed and Jaganmohan Reddy sat there as chief minister, while Naidu is sitting in the Opposition.
The great ceremony, for which Naidu government is reported to have spent Rs 400 crore, went unnoticed on the day.
It was only Naidu, who recalled it in Srikakulam, while the whole state ignored it.