It has been a long time since firebrand YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former minister Kodali Venkateshwara Rao, popularly known as Kodali Nani, was last seen in public. While he made a brief appearance in the early days following YSRCP's loss of power, he later chose to remain low-key, avoiding media interactions.
Rumors had circulated on social media that Kodali Nani was unwell and suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Other reports suggested that he had been staying in Hyderabad, keeping a low profile to avoid being targeted by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government.
However, on Tuesday, after a prolonged absence, Kodali Nani reappeared at the Vijayawada sub-jail, where his close associate and former Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi is currently lodged in connection with the 2023 attack on the TDP office.
Accompanied by his supporters and senior YSRCP leaders, including Perni Nani, Lella Appi Reddy, and Malladi Vishnu, Kodali Nani arrived at the jail, where YSRCP president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had come to meet Vamsi.
Initially, Kodali Nani and Perni Nani were scheduled to enter the jail with Jagan to meet Vamsi, as their names had been submitted for the visit.
However, Vijayawada Sub-Jail authorities denied them permission, citing security concerns. Instead, former MLA Simhadri Ramesh was allowed to accompany Jagan inside the jail, while Kodali Nani and Perni Nani remained outside.
Addressing the media, Kodali Nani sarcastically commented on the cases filed against him, saying that the government could file 30 cases instead of just three, as his party had enough lawyers to handle them.
When asked whether the police were targeting him based on Nara Lokesh’s so-called "Red Book", Kodali Nani dismissed the speculation, saying he had never seen the book and had no idea whether his name was included.
"I don’t care about any 'Red Book,' 'Blue Book,' or any other list," he declared.
He further stated that since he was no longer an MLA, there was no point in discussing such matters, as he was not politically active anymore. Dismissing the legal cases against him as trivial, he remarked that such issues were common in politics and not worth worrying about.
