It is an open secret that YSR Congress party leader and Andhra Pradesh civil supplies minister Kodali Venkateshwar Rao alias Kodali Nani started off his political career with the Telugu Desam Party, influenced by senior N T Rama Rao.
Nani is also a good friend of Junior NTR and produced a couple of films with him. He is still so much attached emotionally to Jr NTR that he wishes the young actor takes over the Telugu Desam Party sooner or later.
The firebrand leader from Gudivada said several times that the TDP would survive only if Jr NTR takes over the party reins. In an interview to a television channel, Nani alleged that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu had used Jr NTR in 2009 elections and later dumped him.
“It was because of Jr NTR that the fight between the Congress and Praja Rajyam Party has turned into the fight between the Congress and the TDP. He has the ability to convey the message straight into the people without beating the bush and has tremendous subject knowledge,” Nani said.
When asked which way he would go if Jr NTR takes over the TDP and pitches it against Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Gudivada MLA did not mince any words in saying that he would sail with Jagan Mohan Reddy till his last breath.
“No doubt, Jr NTR is my friend, but when it comes to politics, my political career is associated with Jagan. If required, I will quit politics, but will not desert Jagan,” Nani said.
However, Nani felt it is not so easy for Jr NTR to revive the TDP.
“The party is already in in stage-2 of its life. And if Chandrababu Naidu continues to be its chief, it will soon enter into the stage-3 and by 2024, it will be in stage-4. Under these circumstances, forget Jr NTR, even if senior NTR comes back, he cannot save the party,” Nani felt.
