Vice-President-elect M. Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Nellore town on Monday amid a rousing reception accorded by youth, leaders and activists cutting across political affiliations.
The maiden two-day visit of Mr. Naidu to his native district after getting elected as India’s Vice-President was celebrated as a memorable occasion by hundreds of students drawn from the Venkatagiri Rajah’s College (VRC), Kasturibai School and various degree and engineering colleges.
On his arrival, Mr. Naidu was taken in a rally from the helipad at the police parade grounds to the VRC College grounds. The highlight of the reception was an event featuring a 1500-metre tricolour that was carried by the student participants in the rally. Among the VIPs who received Mr. Venkaiah were Minister for Municipal Administration P. Narayana and Medical and Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas.
In his address on the occasion, Mr. Naidu attributed his steady rise in politics to the support and inspiration provided by leaders and intellectuals belonging to Nellore district over several decades. He recalled his active interactions with leaders like Puchalapalli Sundaraiah. At one point, Mr. Naidu said in a choked voice that it was indeed painful for him to break active association with the Bharatiya Janata Party as he got countless opportunities in different capacities to serve the party in his long career. “Coming from a humble family, I rose to become the national president of BJP. I served in almost all capacities in the party and I was emotionally attached to it,” he added.
Political career
Stating that he would soon assume the office of the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mr. Naidu said that he had long experience in the Legislative Assembly and Parliament and that he would always like to see active and purposeful debates and discussions in the legislative bodies. Mr. Naidu said that while his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh moulded his personality with the necessary nationalistic fervour, it was in various roles in the BJP leadership that he cultivated discipline, dedication and political foresight all these years. Recalling his days of student unionism, Mr. Naidu said that he worked actively in the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which gave him an early opportunity in life to visit different parts of the country.
