As Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's wife Nara Bhuvaneswari's four-day visit to Kuppam constituency ends today, speculations are rife about her political entry into Andhra politics. Kuppam is the constituency that Chandrababu Naidu has consistently won. Naidu does not spend more than three days in Kuppam even when he comes for election campaigns.

Programs are being held where Bhubaneswari directly interacts with women and the underprivileged sections of society. Two villages were adopted by her in the meantime. Earlier, Bhuvaneswari had borne the entire education expenses of three poor children of Kuppam. During the meetings, Bhuvaneswari said that steps will be taken to facilitate the empowerment and development of every woman in Kuppam. There is also a plan to create employment opportunities by shifting the unemployed to Kuppam.

She assured speedy solutions to land-related issues that arose during the YSRCP regime. TDP leaders hope that Bhubaneswari will reach out to other backward areas with her public relations programme after the Kuppam constituency. Political observers in Andhra believe that this trip is a clear indication that Bhubaneswari will enter electoral politics. Bhuvaneshwari can be given one of the Rajya Sabha seats when there is a vacancy and she can be brought to Parliament. If that happens, it will not be surprising if Bhuvaneshwari becomes a Union Minister when the Cabinet reshuffle happens! Another observation is that these public relations programs are just preparations ahead of her contesting from Kuppam in 2029.

Bhuvaneswari took up political duties and left her husband's shadow after Chandrababu was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department on 9 September 2023 in connection with the AP Skill Development Corporation scam. Bhubaneswari campaigned strongly against YSRCP during the 53 days Naidu spent in Rajahmundry Central Jail. She spoke to the media whenever she visited him in jail.

'My husband's life is in danger in prison. He has already lost five kilos of weight due to the poor conditions in his prison cell, and any further weight loss will affect his kidneys. He had a skin infection due to the heat and humidity in the jail cell," said Bhuvaneswari. She is also active on social media. Bhubaneswari started her 'Nijam Gelavali (Truth must prevail) Yatra' from Tirupati against then Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, protesting Naidu's arrest.

Such trips are always relevant in Andhra politics. Before her yathra, she visited the Tirupati temple. Bhuvaneshwari wrote on social media that she was saddened to visit the Tirumala temple without her husband for the first time. After the yatra, Andhra Pradesh TDP leader and current minister K Atchannaidu said: "Bhuvaneshwari's yatra was a great success. She was able to build a good rapport with people."

Calm and strong

The current political movements make it clear that Chandrababu Naidu has brought his wife into the field realizing that a strong woman leader is the need of the hour in the party. Even though the YSR Congress was defeated in the elections, there is also a remote possibility that the leaders will return to the Congress party. Congress state president YS Sharmila is waiting for an opportunity to gain public attention by leading an agitation against the government.

Naidu had given the home department to K Anitha, state president of the TDP women's wing 'Telugu Mahila'. Bhuvaneshwari's style is to appear in public with a calm nature and always be cheerful. She made her first public appearance in November 2021 when YSRCP leaders personally denounced Naidu's family in the Andhra Assembly. Bhuvaneswari, who broke down in tears at the press conference that day, said that she would protest in the assembly against the 'ugly character assassination' against her.

Family politics

Bhuvaneswari is the daughter of Telugu's first superstar, NT Rama Rao. NTR had won 201 out of 294 seats in the assembly elections (1983) held in the ninth month after forming the party. After winning 216 out of 294 seats in 1994, NTR's move was to select his wife Lakshmi Parvati as his successor. It was blocked by his son-in-law and party's number two Chandrababu Naidu and other family members. In 1995, NTR had to vacate his Chief Minister seat.

Now, when his wife is being elevated as a leader, this history is sure to be used against Naidu by his enemies. NTR's son Nandamuri Balakrishna is a TDP leader and Hindupur MLA. Naidu's son Nara Lokesh is a minister now. NTR's other daughter, Purandeswari, is a family member who is not working in the TDP. Purandeswari is now the BJP's state president and Rajamahendravaram MP.

Naidu's wife Bhuvaneshwari's 24.37 percent stake in Heritage Foods made a huge jump in the stock market after Chandrababu Naidu decided to support the NDA to form the government at the Centre. Bhuvaneshwari's assets increased by Rs 579 crore within five days and it became a big news. The promoters, including Naidu's wife and son, own over 41 per cent stake in the company.