Until the other day, firebrand Telugu Desam Party MP from Vijayawada, Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani, was a perennially disgruntled soul.
He had been adopting a blow-hot-blow-cold stand towards the party and had not hesitated to make critical comments against party president N. Chandrababu Naidu as well.
At one stage, Kesineni made a sensational comment stating that the TDP would not be able to win more than 50 assembly seats in the next elections and that the party would face a split engineered by former TDP MP and Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh.
He even commented that Naidu had neither the strength nor the vision to lead the party to victory in the next election, as the party chief had fallen into the trap of selfish leaders who lack vision.
There was talk that Kesineni was turning out to be a Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju for the TDP. When Naidu visited Delhi last year, Kesineni had even refused to give a bouquet to him, displaying his utter disgruntlement.
He had been angry with Naidu for encouraging his brother Kesineni Chinna against him in Vijayawada, besides his detractors like Bonda Uma and Nagul Meera, for which he had warned the TDP chief several times.
But now, Kesineni has suddenly changed his tune and has started showering praises on Naidu and his leadership.
On Tuesday, he remarked that if Andhra Pradesh had to come back on the track of development, the TDP should come to power, and Naidu should become the chief minister.
“The people of the state are waiting for the return of Chandrababu Naidu as the chief minister. They are disgusted with the anti-democratic rule of Jagan Mohan Reddy,” Kesineni said, after calling on the TDP leaders who were granted bail in the Gannavaram violence incidents.
He alleged that the police were stifling the voice of those who questioned the Jagan regime and suppressing democracy.
“The state is facing a worst political atmosphere. There is absolutely no development in the state, and the situation will come back to normal only if Naidu is voted to power again,” he said.
Kesineni’s comments indicated that he is trying to get back into the good books of Naidu and he wants to play an active role in the party again.
In fact, Naidu had already appointed him as the in-charge for Vijayawada (west) constituency, and there are reports that he is planning to field his daughter Swetha from there.
Apparently, Kesineni realized that he had no other choice but to continue in the TDP while fighting against his detractors within the party. The best way to do this is to make friends with Naidu instead of confronting him, sources said.
