Chairperson of Alai Balai Foundation Bandaru Vijayalakshmi along with her father, former Governor of Haryana, Bandaru Dattatreya felicitating Telangana Jagruti president Kalvakuntla Kavitha , Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar during Alai-Balai, the popular programme that brings all political leaders on a single platform, at Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal
A galaxy of prominent personalities including present and past Governors, Union Ministers, Telangana Ministers, film stars and senior politicians cutting across party lines attended the annual ‘Alai Balai’ event hosted by former Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and senior BJP leader at the Exhibition Grounds here on Friday.
The event which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and being hosted since 2019 by Bandaru Vijayalakshmi, daughter of Mr. Dattatreya, began with the traditional folk and dance programmes even as the guests began to arrive. Ms. Vijayalakshmi and her father personally received each and every guest, welcomed them with the traditional scarf before presenting them with a memento and gifts.
Mr. Dattatreya noted that he had initiated the programme during the separate Telangana State agitation to bring the Telugu people together imbibing the festive spirit despite political differences. He urged people to buy and encourage ‘swadeshi’ products.
Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu warned against forces trying to divide the country on the basis of caste, creed or religion. India’s strength is unity in diversity and minor differences are always sorted out. Hence, those hoping for a ‘revolt’ in the country are bound to be disappointed, he said. Former Maharastra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao said the event deserved to be mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, while echoing the sentiments of other guests in appreciating the event and Mr. Dattatreya, maintained that every section of the society has benefited from GST 2.0 after prices of 350 goods were reduced. He hailed Prime Minister Modi for taking the initiative. Ex-MLC V. Hanumantha Rao wanted the event to be taken to other places in AP and across the country to bring cohesiveness.
Governor Jishnu Deva Varma, Union Minister of State for Law & Justice Arjun Megwal, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, former Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, TG Minister of Roads & Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Minister for Transport Ponnam Prabhakar, Malkajgiri MP Eatala Rajender, Film stars Nagarjuna, Brahmanandam, Telangana Jagruthi’s K. Kavitha and many other stalwarts participated.
Published – October 03, 2025 09:06 pm IST
