DK Audikesavulu Naidu, a Congress heavy weight in Chittoor politics, passed away at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangalore on Wednesday after a failed bypass surgery.
Naidu, (71) who was the chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)twice and member of Lok Sabha from Chittoor, was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition on Tuesday night. Naidu was 71 and is survived by wife, a son and two daughters. He was born on July 1, 1941.
Audikesavulu Naidu had a long stint in the Telugu Desam Party. He was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from Chittoor on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket.
In July 2008, the TDP expelled him for defying party’s whip during voting on civil nuclear bill in the Parliament. Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu after expelling him from the party said that Audikesavulu Naidu had sided with the Congress and even met the Prime Minister after the trust vote.
Later as though to repay gratitude in helping the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led government in the Centre, he was made the chairman of the TTD, the most coveted position in Andhra Pradesh, in September the same year.
Of late, Naidu was exhibiting symptoms of homesickness and Chandrababu Naidu too appeared to have mellowed down a bit and was reported to have decided to let bygones be bygones.
Audikesavulu Naidu belonged to Kapu community and could have become an asset for the TDP as he could have come in handy to split the kapu vote bank in favour of the TDP at least in Chittoor district.
As managing trustee of Srinivasa Trust, he was active in spreading education and helping the needy. He was instrumental in grounding ‘Jala Nidhi’ programme for carrying water from Tirupati to uphills of Tirumala.
Audikesavulu Naidu was born on July 1, 1941 at Dalvaipally in Chittoor district. Naidu was a mechanical engineer and started his career as site engineer in a suger factory. Later, he started liquor business and owns industries like Karnataka Breweries and Distilleries, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences.
Naidu was also a devotee of Sri Satya Sai Baba. Taking inspiration from Baba’s services, he started various services in Chittoor district.
The body would be taken to Chittoor on Thursday from Bangalore and the final rites are likely to be held in Chittoor.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana, TTD executive officer LV Subrahmanyam, tourism minister Chiranjeevi and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences over his death.