Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday saved his former boss and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu from major embarrassment, as he and his son Nara Lokesh had been under attack from social media activists owing allegiance to the YSR Congress party.
It was about the closure of a road-side food stall set up by Dasari Sai Kumari, popularly known as Kumari Aunty, who gained social media fame with her instant supply of food on the bustling road opposite a star hotel at Rayadurgam.
The Raiduram traffic police swooped on her mobile food stall on Tuesday and seized the food material, after receiving complaints that it was causing traffic congestion in the area. The cops asked Kumari Aunty to shift it to another location.
The social media, which gave Kumari Aunty instant fame by posting reels and stories about her for the last two months resulting in steep increase in her business, also shot the entire episode of the Hyderabad police dismantling her food stall.
Local residents allege that influential individuals are behind this action against her. The prominent hotels in the vicinity are concerned about their image, as social media mentions some of their brand names to identify the food stall's location.
The issue also triggered a political row after the ruling YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh alleged that Opposition leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan were involved in closing the food stall.
The YSRCP social media activists posted on X that the incident happened after the Jagan Reddy government handed over a house to 'Kumari Aunty'.
As the YSRCP post has gone viral, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had to intervene. On Wednesday, the chief minister directed the DGP and Urban Development Ministry to revoke their decision.
“She will stay in her place. Praja Palana means the government stands by entrepreneurs. Congress government will stand by poor & visit her stall shortly,” Revanth said.
By doing so, Revanth virtually came to the rescue of Naidu and Lokesh, and also Pawan Kalyan, who otherwise would have come under more and more attack on social media.
Kumari Aunty initiated the food business in 2011 at this location, her recent surge in popularity led to the sale of nearly 100 kg of cooked rice along with various non-vegetarian items.
Social media played a significant role in her rise to prominence, with film celebrities like Sundeep Kishen further enhancing her visibility through visits for lunch.
