Political Diary

The Andhra Pradesh government has declared seven days mourning from Thursday to September 9, as a mark of respect to Chief Minister late Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash in Nallamalla hills at Kurnool district.The national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout Andhra Pradesh and there will be no official entertainment during the period, a state government release said.All government offices, schools and colleges in the state remained closed on Thursday and will remain shut also on the day of funeral of the departed leader, which will be announced in due course, the release added.