Telugu states expect Venkaiah to be an effective VP
s t r umental i n drawing the ruling TRS in Telangana to the BJP camp, though they fought a bitter contest. As the Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Naidu also reached out to Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and conveyed the message that the governments at the Centre and state could work on friendly terms for the benefit of the people. Now, the TRS, too, is supporting Venkaiah Naidu.
Naidu’s nomination to the Vice President’s post has evoked mixed reactions from different political parties in the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He has strong connections with many leaders from the two states over the past few decades. Though he was a committed BJP leader all through the time, Naidu shared an excellent rapport with leaders of even the Left parties here.
Naidu’s elevation to the second highest Constitutional post has brought both joy and disappointment to the camp of ally TDP in Andhra Pradesh. Ever since his name was announced as VP candidate, TDP MPs in Delhi and ministers in Amaravati, along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, started taking stock of the situation and the possible impact on them.
For the past three years, Venkaiah Naidu has been the sole source of communication between the ruling BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and the TDP government in AP. Whenever Chandrababu Naidu wanted any help, right from an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers to fixing meetings with officials at the Centre, Venkaiah Naidu took up the responsibility and delivered most of the time.
Venkaiah Naidu also played a crucial role in getting a special economic package worth around Rs 2.25 lakh crore for AP, in lieu of the special category status, which was “promised” at the time of the divi- sion of the combined state three years ago. Venkaiah Naidu used to arrange meetings of Central ministers at his residence in New Delhi to chalk out this package.
Venkaiah Naidu was also constantly reviewing the promises in the pipeline for AP as part of the package. His sudden exit from the Union Cabinet has disappointed the TDP ministers in the state, which will hold Assembly elections in two years’ time. CM Chandrababu Naidu admitted that “Venkaiah Naidu’s exit from the Union Cabinet is a loss to AP, but we celebrate his election as Vice-President.”
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary, too, said, “Venkaiah Naidu’s exit from the Union Cabinet is a big loss for AP, which is in the middle of securing many funds from the Centre. But we have to celebrate his election as Vice-President as it is an honour to Telugu people. We are sure he will become the President of India in future.”
Even the people of Chavatapalem, Venkaiah Naidu’s home village in Nellore district in AP were optimistic that he would rise to the highest constitutional post of President of India. “We expected our sir (Venkaiah) to become the President this time, but Vice-President is the next best. We are confident that he would go higher,” Kolliparru Ranga told the media from Chavatapalem.