Hyderabad: It may sound strange but Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu still owns a 1993 model Ambassador car and has assets worth just Rs 42.4 lakh in his name.
His wife Bhuvaneswari, the daughter of TDP founder N T Rama Rao, has Rs 33.07 crore worth of assets and Naidu’s son Lokesh owns Rs 7.67 crore worth of properties. He has Rs 4.72 crore liabilities too. Lokesh’s wife Brahmani, who is the granddaughter of NTR, has properties worth just Rs 4.77 crore. Even though the Opposition is charging Naidu with amassing wealth, the three-time chief minister and his family possess properties worth only Rs 45.99 crore.
Continuing with the tradition of divulging the assets of his family members started by his father Naidu five years back, Lokesh— who is the coordinator of the TDP Workers’ Welfare Fund—recently disclosed the status of the assets and liabilities of the members of his family as on March 31, 2015.
Lokesh threw a challenge at the YSRC, Congress and TRS leaders to declare their assets before accusing his family of having amassed huge wealth. Taking a dig at YSRC chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy—whose net assets stand at Rs 344 crore as per the affidavit submitted by him to the Election Commission during 2015 General Elections—Lokesh said, “My family’s income is mostly generated by Heritage Foods Ltd through which we sell milk and vegetables. Unlike others who set up a cement plant or a news channel, our happiness depends on this small business. Our family doesn’t harbour any idea to launch news channel.” Lokesh indirectly attacked Jagan who owns a newspaper and a TV channel. Lokesh further said he and his family would write their entire properties in the name of those who proved that his family owns more than what had been disclosed.
Giving a break-up of the family assets, Lokesh said the net assets of his father Naidu stood at Rs 42.4 lakh as on March 31, 2015 whereas it was Rs 70.69 lakh last year. “I am giving out the details about my family properties to prove the accusation that I am making huge money is false. Opposition parties are making baseless allegations against my family. The then YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s government had ordered 35 enquires into my father’s assets. But, they were not able to prove anything,” said Lokesh.
Interestingly, a day after his son disclosed the assets of his family, Naidu said his only ambition is to serve the people of his state. The YSRC, and the Congress ridiculed the declaration of assets of Naidu and his family. “It is a futile exercise aimed at diverting the attention of the people,” said APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy.
YSRC dared Naidu to hold an independent enquiry to prove the authenticity of their claim. “Going by the scams Naidu is involved in and the house he is rebuilding, the declaration about Naidu’s assets to be at a meagre Rs 42 lakh is ridiculous. We demand an inquiry by a retired judge or a mutually acceptable auditor to vouch for the figures,” said YSRC spokesperson Ambati Rambabu.