As per the latest plan worked out by the Chief Minister's Office, Kiran Kumar will conduct the programme till February 2013, covering the remaining 18 districts in the state.
The Baata was launched in July as a political ploy to counter the impact of YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who toured the state vigorously till he was arrested in the disproportionate assets case in May.
The Congress' drubbing in the by-elections in June also forced him to devise this programme while his camp managers wanted Kiran to build an image of his own by undertaking the Baata.
Kiran so far toured East Godavari, Srikakulam, Khammam and West Godavari districts and is set to visit Kurnool from tomorrow.
He spends three days in each district interacting with members of women Self-Help Groups, farmers besides Congress workers and also holds a district-level development review with officials and elected representatives.
The Chief Minister sleeps in a government-run students hostel in a village and plays cricket and volleyball with the wards, besides having a community lunch or dinner.
Party sources claim that the programme has not only allowed him to "escape" the "pulls and pressures" in Hyderabad, but has also "impressed" the high command in New Delhi.
When there was intense speculation late last month about Kiran's possible removal from the CM's post, an influential section of MPs from coastal Andhra region was said to have told the high command that he was "striving hard" to improve the government and the Congress' image by undertaking the Baata programme. (More)
