VIJAYAWADA : Three Lok Sabha MPs from Andhra Pradesh — two representing the TDP and one from the BJP — have made their way into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet 3.0. This is the highest number of MPs from Andhra Pradesh who have been inducted into the Union Cabinet since 2014. During Modi’s first term, senior TDP leader P Ashok Gajapathi Raju was given a Cabinet berth. In 2019, the BJP contested the elections alone. As it did not win any Lok Sabha seats, there was no representation from the State in the Cabinet.
From the TDP, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who secured a hat-trick win from Srikakulam, and first-time MP from Guntur Pemmasani Chandrasekhar have been chosen. The son of former union minister Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu, Ram is well-versed in Hindi and English. Pemmasani, a doctor by profession, is the wealthiest MP in the country with assets worth over Rs 5,000 crore.
The surprise pick was BJP’s Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, a first-time MP from Narasapuram Lok Sabha constituency. Varma started his political career with the BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha). He secured an electoral win in his second attempt.
‘Double engine’ sarkar will ensure State’s growth: MPs
Although there were reports that Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, also a NDA ally, would get a spot in the Union Cabinet, but names of neither of its two MPs figured in the final list.Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State, the NDA bagged 21 with TDP winning 16, BJP 3 and JSP 2. The YSRC won just four.
While the TDP is likely to secure a Cabinet berth and a Minister of State post, BJP’s Varma may also be made a Union minister. It was expected that Rajamahendravaram MP and BJP State chief D Purandeswari would be inducted into the Cabinet, the same did not happen. Now, there are speculations that she might be appointed as the Lok Sabha Speaker.
It was speculated that BJP’s CM Ramesh, who won the Anakapalle Lok sabha seat, could be inducted into the Cabinet. However, the saffron party opted for Varma as a reward for his loyalty. While Purandeswari and Ramesh switched over to the BJP from the Congress and TDP respectively, Varma has held several posts within the BJP since 1991.
Ram Mohan Naidu belongs to the Velama community and hails from north Coastal Andhra, while Varma is a Kshatriya from the Godavari region. Pemmasani, a member of the Kamma community, is from south coastal Andhra.
Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi, the MPs said the ‘double engine’ sarkar will develop Andhra Pradesh in all sectors and that they would strive to get more funds for the State.
Thanking the people for electing him for the third consecutive time, Ram Mohan Naidu said he would strive to develop the State and get all possible assistance from the Centre for the State.