Venkaiah Naidu, BJP-led NDA’s Pick For Vice Presidential Poll: A Look Back at His 30 Years of Political Career

Naidu's nomination is also expected to get the same support as Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind did.

Written by: Uddipta Das

Updated: July 17, 2017, 9:40 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/venkaiah-naidu-bjp-led-ndas-pick-for-vice-presidential-poll-a-look-back-at-25-years-of-political-career-2327555/ Copy

In his early career, M. Venkaiah Naidu (right) was a member of the RSS and ABVP. (Image:PTI)

New Delhi, July 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA has chosen M. Venkaiah Naidu as their Vice Presidential candidate. The decision made on Monday, at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes after the Presidential Elections were concluded successfully. While Naidu’s nomination is also expected to get the same support as Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind did, the 30 long years of experience in politics which Naidu have will surely add to his potential as the Vice President.

Presently serving as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu was born in Andhra Pradesh and has served as one of the prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was also the party’s national president from 2002 to 2004 and served as the Minister of Rural Development under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

Prime Minister soon after the meeting that decided upon Naidu’s nomination as the next Vice President candidate said, “A farmer’s son, Venkaiah Naidu Garu brings years of experience in public life and is admired across the political spectrum.” He added that he has known him for years and have always admired his ‘hardwork and tenacity’. The PM in a series of tweets stated that Naidu’s years of Parliamentary experience will also help him discharge the important role of Rajya Sabha Chairperson.

I know @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu for years. Have always admired his hardwork & tenacity. A fitting candidate for the office of Vice President.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2017

A farmer’s son, @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu brings years of experience in public life and is admired across the political spectrum.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2017

The years of Parliamentary experience @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu has will help him discharge the important role of Rajya Sabha Chairperson.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2017

In his early years, Naidu was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during his college life. Imprisoned during the emergency period, he is also known for his active role in the Jai Andhra Movement which gained momentum in 1972.

In 1978 and 1983, he was elected as an MLA to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and in 1998 he was elected as a member Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2010. Naidu also served as the party spokesperson from 1996 to 2000.

He is also credited for pushing several policies in his tenure as the Minister of Rural Development. In terms of his role beyond being politician, he is involved with a trust, Swarna Bharath Trust, which was founded by him. It runs schools for poor, orphaned and children with special need and imparts several self-employment training programmes for the women and youth.

While Naidu’s role as a BJP leader has been astounding for the party, it would be interesting to see if all the allies of NDA, that supported NDA’s Presidential candidate will be willing to back him as well. Naidu’s involvement with the RSS is surely to irk the opposition and hence will battle out with their candidate on August 5, when the Vice Presidential Election is scheduled.