Even as Telangana was celebrating the birthday of its Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday, a man from Andhra Pradesh organised a massive party of his own in Tenali in Guntur district.
Sheikh Khadeer, who owns a jewellery shop told reporters that he was a huge fan of KCR and the founder-president of KCR Seva Foundation, which cut a cake, donated clothes and arranged food for several people on the occasion of the Telangana CM's birthday.
"Last year, we celebrated KCR’s birthday by offering food to about 100 poor people. But this year, we wanted to make it bigger, to send a message to the politicians of Andhra Pradesh. This celebration is also a protest against the political leaders of Andhra Pradesh for their failure to fight for the interest of the state,” Khadeer was quoted as saying.
The highlight of the entire incident was a massive banner erected in Tenali by Khadeer, to celebrate KCR's birthday. A photo and video of the banner went viral on social media.
KCR's birthday celebrations were held across the state with leaders and activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) holding special prayers for his good health and long life on Saturday, as he turned 64 years old.
The TRS chief offered prayers at a temple in the premises of Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Governor ESL Narasimhan conveyed their greetings to Rao.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the President greeted KCR over the phone and wished him a long and healthy life.
The Prime Minister took to Twitter to wish KCR. "I pray for his wonderful health and long life," tweeted Modi.
Deputy Chief Ministers Kadiam Srihari and Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Ministers, including KCR's son KT Rama Rao and nephew T. Harish Rao, MPs including his daughter K. Kavitha, state legislators and other party leaders wished him.
Kavitha along with Ministers T. Srinivas Yadav and Indrakaran Reddy offered prayers at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad and later participated in 'Ayush homam'.
The TRS workers cut cakes at party offices and organised medical and blood donations to mark their leader's birthday.
IANS inputs