Twitter
Advertisement

From Nellore to New Delhi: Journey of BJP's Vice-Presidential pick Venkaiah Naidu

Luckily for him, when armed with the question, he went to the the local Jana Sangh leader, Somaiah, and was told that the party had no problems if he consumed non-vegetarian food.

Latest News
article-main
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu is greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as BJP President Amit Shah looks on, after he was announced as the BJPs Vice-Presidential candidate in New Delhi on Monday.
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, the BJP’s Vice Presidential candidate, may have given up the idea of joining Bharatiya Jana Sangh (predecessor of BJP) on the issue of food choice when he was still a boy. 

Luckily for him, when armed with the question, he went to the the local Jana Sangh leader, Somaiah, and was told that the party had no problems if he consumed non-vegetarian food.

“I was actually perplexed when a senior Congress leader asked me why I wanted to join this party from the North when don’t allow members to eat non-veg food. When Somaiahji told me there was no problem, I was reassured.

We don’t serve non-veg as we can manage only veg because of a paucity of funds. If I prepared a non-vegetarian meal, he (Somaiahji) would be happy to be a guest,” said Naidu, fondly reminiscing his early years in the party.

Like most children, it was the sporting activities promoted by the RSS that attracted young Naidu to the organisation. It also set him on a tedious journey — from an RSS activist to a ABVP member — which propelled him into the spotlight after the Jan Andhra Movement in 1972.

Naidu was later imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency period between 1975 and 1977.

After becoming the Janata Party Youth Wing president of Andhra Pradesh (1977-1980), he was elected as MLA to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1978.

When Congress won in Andhra Pradesh in 1978, Naidu was elected as MLA from Udayagiri Constituency as a Janata Party candidate.

Son of a farmer, Naidu lost his mother in an accident.“I was nurtured by the party,” Naidu said.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement