Vijayawda: Two MPs from Telugu Desam and one MP from BJP won berths in the new Modi-led NDA cabinet in New Delhi on Sunday.
The three are TD's first-time MP from Guntur Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu from Srikakulam and BJP MP from Narsapuram, Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma.
Surprisingly the BJP high command did not entertain turncoat MPs for minister posts, like state BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari and CM Ramesh, who tried hard for berths this time. Instead, it went to saffron activist and leader, Srinivas Varma.
Ram Mohan Naidu, Dr Chandra Sekhar and Srinivas Verma took oath as Union ministers in New Delhi on Sunday.
This was the first time that state BJP got a berth in the Union Cabinet after 1999. Telugu cine actor Krishnam Raju and SBPBK Satyanarayana Rao worked as deputy ministers in the Vajpayee cabinet in 1998. After that, this is the first time that a BJP MP from AP enters the central cabinet.
Srinivas Varma said he had been working for the BJP for the past 34 years. He thanked the three parties that worked for his win this time and also thanked the saffron high command for giving him a chance.
Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar belongs to Burripalem village near Tenali and got the chance to be a Union minister after winning the Guntur MP seat in his first electoral attempt itself. He was active in the NRI wing of the TD.
His name was first considered as TD candidate for the Narasaraopeta MP seat in 2014 but it went instead to Rayapati Sambasiva Rao. His family was associated with TD as his father Sambasiva Rao was an activist of the party.
Dr Chandra Sekhar said he will work to bring investments and industries to the state and develop Andhra Pradesh in all spheres.
Three-time MP from Srikakulam, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan of the Telugu Desam, is the son of Kinjarapu Errannaidu, who too was a Union minister. He said, “Special thanks to the people of Srikakulam district. The blessings of my father Kinjarapu Errannaidu are always upon me. Thanks to our leader Chandrababu Naidu, who is always guiding and encouraging me, Lokesh Anna, Pawan Kalyan, Narendra Modi, especially my uncle Atchannaidu, who is watching me with brotherly feelings. My family members made a lot of sacrifices and made me win the polls three times. I bow my head before all the people of Srikakulam district.”
