The facts are out in the open. The bitterness is well-known and hence, now he is back in politics to avenge the loss of his time and image in Telugu politics. Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, who is the son-in-law of TDP founder and former CM of united Andhra Pradesh, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) and co-brother of AP Chief Minister and TDP Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, is making his political moves carefully and quietly.
After the death of NTR, Chandrababu Naidu staked claim of TDP and became the successor of NTR’s legacy, sidelining Daggubati Venkateswara Rao. This snubbed NTR’s other daughter (Purandeswari) and her husband Venkateswara Rao. They joined the Congress led by Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy as he successfully dethroned Chandrababu in 2004. She became a minister in the UPA regime. The Congress was the obvious platform for the Daggubati family to challenge Chandrababu as they did not find a place in the TDP.
However, post-bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh, with no option left, Purandeswari quit Congress who was decimated in the truncated AP and joined BJP. Realising that the BJP doesn’t have much chance in Andhra Pradesh and that their political future is at stake, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao’s only option to challenge Chandrababu was to join YSR Congress.
Ever since his entry into YSRCP, Daggubati has become a ‘Chanakya’ in the party. His entry into YSR Congress party benefits him in two ways – One, he can take political revenge of the TDP Chief who took centerstage and hogged the limelight by keep TDP intact and second, he can play a crucial role in helping Jagan win in Andhra Pradesh.
Unveiling his plans one by one gradually, he is playing a key role in helping YSR Congress poach Telugu Desam Party’s MPs and MLAs. And, how? He is using his connections and lobbying intensely with ‘Kamma’ industrialists to join YSRCP in order to secure the finances for election campaigns. On the other hand, he is targeting MPs in Telugu Desam who could be easy turncoats and help YSR Congress.
According to inside reports from YSRCP, there is news that Daggubati may have got hold of TDP’s list of candidates who will be getting tickets and hence, is poaching those who may not get tickets and turning them against Telugu Desam. While there are a slew of MLAs and MPs lining up to join YSR Congress, it definitely looks like Daggubati’s plans are currently working for Jagan.
However, one still needs to understand how Daggubati will survive in a party where NTR’s second wife, Lakshmi Parvathi, also is a member. As someone who opposed her marriage to NTR and took the family’s side in staging a coup along with Chandrababu, it is still a surprise on how long will the Daggubatis go on in YSR Congress party!
