Smashing Choice

Naidu will change the way vice presidents function, says his childhood friend.

- Lalita Iyer

When he was sounded out to be the BJP’s vice presidential candidate, M. Venkaiah Naidu was initially reluctant. However, being the quintessential partyman, he yielded, and agreed to contest.

“He will find a lot of work, contribute both to the state and to the nation and, of course, to Nellore [his hometown in Andhra Pradesh],” said Dr Kancherla Ravindranath, Naidu’s childhood friend. “He will change the way vice presidents function.”

Naidu was born on July 1, 1949, at Chavatapalem in Nellore district to Ramanamma and Rangaiah Naidu. He studied at the DLNR government high school in Bucchireddypalem, a small village near Nellore. “In 1996, Naidu, me and some others were felicitated during the golden jubilee celebrations of the school. He spoke about his school days and said how most students were from a rural back ground,” said R.A. Padmanabha Rao, a schoolmate of Naidu, who retired as additional director general of Doordarshan.

Naidu graduated in politics and diplomatic studies from V.R. College, Nellore. He was influenced by Durga Prasad, a local RSS pracharak, who became his guide, philosopher and mentor. During this time, he also got a chance to meet RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar, when he visited Nellore.

Padmanabha Rao recalled an incident that happened when Naidu was an undergraduate. “There was a movie hall in Nellore called Kanakamahal, owned by a person called Kantha Rao. He was the terror of the town. Once, he beat up a student. This made Naidu angry, and he did not hesitate to challenge Kantha Rao.”