Aadikesavulu Naidu, the TDP's Lok Sabha member from Chittoor, has reportedly decided to vote for the UPA government. Though he met Chandrababu Naidu in New Delhi on Tuesday morning and denied reports of his defection as rumours, reliable sources told rediff.com that Aadikesavulu Naidu has made up his mind to jump the TDP boat.
He told reporters of Andhra Pradesh media organisations in New Delhi that he was not against the India-US nuclear deal and he will take a decision to support the UPA after consultation with TDP leaders.
Who is Aadikesavulu Naidu and why is he so important?
He is an industrialist with a presence across several sectors including sugar and power generation. He has bankrolled different political parties and politicians at different times. He was the treasurer of the Congress party when P V Narasimha Rao was prime minister, but switched his loyalties to the TDP. In May 2004 he won the Chittoor Lok Sabha constituency on a TDP ticket.
Of late he has been in the news for reportedly extending support to movie superstar Chiranjeevi's political plans. Aadikesavulu Naidu and Chiranjeevi belong to the same Kapu caste.
Why does he wants to quit the TDP?
Various theories are going around. First, he wants to be on the right side of the powers that be due to his business interests. While a few months are left for the term of the present Lok Sabha, he wants to go to the Rajya Sabha and is eyeing the seat in the Upper House of Parliament currently vacant after the resignation of TDP MP C Ramachandraiah, who quit the party to join Chiranjeevi.
Aadikesavulu Naidu has also told TDP leaders he is not happy with the increasing proximity between the TDP and Telengana Rashtra Samithi as he is against the division of the state.
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