Gala birthday of KTR: MLA donates Rs 8 Cr for schools

HYDERABAD: Prominent political, movie and sports personalities and celebrities greeted TRS working president and Minister K T Rama Rao on his birthday on Sunday. Most of them took to Twitter to exten their greetings and shower their affection towards the minister, as KTR is famously known for using Twitter with over 3.5 million followers.

The minister had given a call to all his admirers to #GiftASmile by attending to the necessities of the needy and that he was not celebrating the birthday in view of the incessant rains that battered the State causing a lot of hardship to people.

In fact, #GiftASmile attained the proportions of a movement in the last three years.

Most remarkable of all among the #GiftASmile activity was the Rs. 8-crore pledged as donation by Marri Janardhan Reddy, MLA.

He tweeted: "It's a blessed moment to convey you on the occasion @KTRTRS Bday that as a part of your prestigious program #GiftASmile we are donating Rs.8 crores for the upliftment of 3 Govt ZP Schools. (i.e.Tadoor,Sirisawada,Kummera) We pray God to bless you as the forthcoming C M of TS 🙏🌷."

Several film personalities like Chiranjeevi, Nagarajuna and Ramcharan tweeted greeting KTR.

YSR Congress Parliamentary Party lease V Vijaya Sai Reddy, Ministers Gudivada Amarnath, Roja Selvamani, former minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy greeted the minister.

A friend who did not want to be identified took up the responsibility of sprucing up an orphanage school in Cantonment area. Telangana Mineral Development Corporation chairman Krishank Manne tweeted on behalf of the donor saying: "As part of @GiftASmile2 , celebrating @KTRTRS garu's birthday, Minister's friend has come forward to adopt Balatejaswi Aashray Girls Orphanage in Regimental Bazar, Cantonment to revamp its infrastructure.

Shall soon share the completion of works images

#HappyBirthdayKTR."

Grand celebrations at TRS Bhavan to mark KTR Birthday

On the other hand, TRS party headquarters, the Telangana Bhavan, wore a festive look since early Sunday morning. Every bit of the premises was well decorated with balloons and posters greeting KTR which added to the carnival spirit among the party cadre. TRS Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency in-charge Thalasani Sai Kiran organized the birthday celebrations here.

Later, a huge cake was cut by Hyderabad ministers Mahmood Ali and Thalasani Srinivas Yadav to mark KTR's birthday. A documentary made on KTR was exhibited on this occasion. Also, a portrait made using sand art and a 3D show became the special attraction of the fete. Minister Malla Reddy, MLC Surabhi Vani Devi, MLAs Danam Nagender and Mutha Gopal were among the battery of party leaders who took part in the celebrations.

Out side the Telangana Bhavan, KTR was greeted in a one-of-its-kind manner when some of his fans took out a rally on the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge featuring the graffiti, "HBD KTR", with each car bearing one alphabet.

Away from politics, the Telangana minister also received a memorable gesture from Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. On the occasion of KTR's birthday and as a part of the Green Challenge initiative, he planted saplings at Panchavati Colony in Banjara Hills.

Several film personalities, singers and artistes came up with songs dedicated to KTR and the most prominent among them was the one created by noted film director from Telangana Shankar.