Kesineni Brothers Fight: Nani Issues Strong Warning To TDP

The enmity between Kesineni brothers has become a hot topic of discussion in the Vijayawada political circles what with Vijayawada MP and TDP senior leader Kesineni Nani issuing a warning purportedly to the party high command that he would encourage their foes, if they (the party leadership) supported Nani’s enemies.

The cryptic remark by the TDP veteran while leaving the TDP office at Mangalagiri after speaking to the party president and former CM
N. Chandrababu Naidu has drawn the attention of the party leaders in the city. It is learnt that Nani also spoke to TDP state unit chief Atchannaidu and former minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who is also a TDP politburo member.

According to sources in the TDP, Nani made the strong comments following differences with his brother Kesineni Shivanath alias Chinni. The brothers have been at loggerheads for more than a decade. Of late, Chinni had been actively taking part in the party activities and this has increased Nani’s dissent as he is feeling neglected in the party.

Naidu tries to pacify Nani

Taking cognizance of the differences between the siblings, Chandrababu Naidu had reportedly called Nani in the past and tried to tell him that it would be good if he can shun the enmity with his brother as the party’s prospects would take a beating in Vijayawada, which is considered as TDP’s stronghold.

In a bid to pacify the sulking senior leader, Naidu had even handed over the responsibility of handling the party affairs in Vijayawada West to Nani, apart from declaring his daughter Kesineni Swetha the party’s candidate for Vijayawada Mayor post.

Even after taking over charge of the party affairs in Vijayawada West constituency, Nani could not gain the support of TDP leaders like Pattabhi and Bonda Uma, who have their presence in that constituency.

Moreover, Swetha lost the polls and Nani was of the opinion that his rival group in the party was behind his daughter’s defeat. TDP leaders Bonda Uma and Nagulmeera had been opposing Nani and he had a feeling that they had ensured his daughter’s defeat.

Sibling rivalry

Chinni had entered the political scene when Nani was serving as the MP for a second term, when the latter tried to maintain distance from the TDP. At this time, Chinni had even opened his own party office in Vijayawada. The brothers had been fighting against each other for nearly 15 years over some property dispute and they even differed over their Travels business.

Some of Nani’s followers also tried to join hands with Chinni but the former had controlled them.

Now, it is being said Nani is of the opinion that even the TDP leadership is promoting Chinni and had met Chandrababu over the same issue. Just after leaving the Mangalagiri TDP office premises, Nani made the above remarks raising doubts if he had uttered the same before Chandrababu too.

Political analysts say that Nani could not have spoken to his party boss in the same tone and tenor. It is significant to know that Chinni did not respond to his brother’s remarks so far.

People’s leader

At the same time, Nani also stressed that he does not belong to any party but that he belongs to the people. He had made these comments several times earlier and repeated the same today too. He did not claim to be TDP MP which indicates that he is not satisfied with the party high command.

At one instance, he even removed Chandrababu’s portrait from his party office and send signals that he does not belong to the TDP but tried to cover up the issue.

Nani had reportedly met Naidu fearing that the party ticket might not be issued to him in the next elections but party senior leaders maintained that they were not encouraging Chinni and that the party would go with Nani only. The party will never do injustice to Nani, they added.