Initially, Venkaiah Naidu was not keen on holding higher offices. “I neither want to become rashtrapati, nor do I want to become up-rashtrapati. I am happy being Usha’s (his wife) pati,” he had quipped. Then, a few days ago, BJP president Amit Shah approached him with the proposal for vice presidency.
There was only one little problem. Naidu was happy with his existing job, handling two big ministries and being in the thick of party decisions. For a man who doesn’t like one idle moment in his day, the thought of a relaxed appointment was unappealing.
He had a huddle with his closest aides. “We realised that for the next few months, he would be busy with the Rajya Sabha, where the National Democratic Alliance is still weak in numbers,” said an aide. “He would also have more occasions to indulge in a favourite activity, travel. Also, he could inject new vigour into the post, just as A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had done with the presidency.’’
Naidu said yes. Yet, it was a bittersweet moment. He was leaving behind a party that had been a foster mother to him. An important part in the life of a man who lost his mother in a tragic accident when he was just a year and a half old. She was gored to death by a bull.
The new job will change the life of at least one family member, his wife, who has always kept away from the limelight. Now, she may have to step out of the shadows. Naidu’s staff had to use oodles of coercion to get her to pose for a picture, offering a sweetmeat to her husband.
Naidu stood out in his party, one which is largely vegetarian, north Indian, and of Brahmins and Baniyas. He has managed to keep his identity intact, yet, came to the limelight as the spokesperson of the party. Even as he has opposed the imposition of Hindi, he encourages people to learn the language. His Hindi stands out among colleagues who have a penchant for the high-brow, de-Urdufied version.
An agriculturist by birth, he thrived in his first ministerial appointment as rural development minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When he took over the urban development portfolio in the Narendra Modi government, he said his move from RD to UD was symbolic of India’s rapid march towards urbanisation.
Naidu was tasked with a very ambitious dream of Modi, who announced the development of 100 smart cities soon after taking oath. Putting that dream into a doable project was no mean task. He introduced the system of competitions, leaving it to cities themselves to come up with their smart ideas. Naidu’s announcements of results were reminiscent of school tests. He would laud top performers and give extra time for a “retest” to cities that had failed by a fraction. The competition model worked so well that he used it to rate cities and villages for the Swachh Bharat mission, too.
Naidu knows when and how to crack the whip. Clearing up Lutyens Delhi bungalows of occupants who are no longer entitled to those quarters is not a popular task. But one does not cross swords with Naidu.
A foodie at heart, Naidu has to watch his diet now, because of his diabetes problem and bariatric surgery. Luckily for his guests, he is also passionate about feeding people and discussing dishes and recipes with them. He once even demonstrated before guests how to eat a deep fried Andhra chilly.
Naidu may face a lot of heat in the Rajya Sabha soon. That will keep him going.
