Nellore: Vice-President elect M. Venkaiah Naidu’s remarks over how he was persuaded by Congress leaders not to join the Jan Sangh in the 1970’s left the large gathering that had assembled for his felicitation ceremony at VR College Ground in Nellore city on Monday, bursting into laughter. “Former minister and Congress leader late Anam Venkata Reddy tried to discourage me from joining the Jan Sangh by saying that that it was a North Indian party run by Brahmins and Vysyas. He said that moreover, it is a vegetarian party. Although I was not bothered about other factors, I was scared about vegetarian issue since I am a non-vegetarian” Venkaiah Naidu said to peals of laughter.

There was another round of laughter when he said he was not able to understand his own writing on the walls using the conventional brush when he was campaigning as a student for Jan Sangh candidate Annadata Madhava Rao for Nellore Assembly seat in 1967. He went on to win the seat then.

Referring to his love for eating food in famous restaurants such as Komala Vilas in Nellore, Venkaiah Naidu said he may not have the chance in future being in a Constitutional post. He said there was some kind of power in Nellore soil, air and water and the support of the people of the district led him to grow to the level of Vice President of the Country. He recalled his association with leaders such N. Janardhan Reddy, whose son Ramkumar Reddy is with BJP now, Nallapareddy Srinivasulu Reddy, Bezawada Papi Reddy, Puchhalapalli Sundaraiah, GC Kondaiah, Ponnaluru Seetharami Reddy, Anam Baktavatsala Reddy, Anam Venkata Reddy and Rebala Dasaradha Rami Reddy among others.

Venkaiah thanks Lord for favours:

With the blessings of Lord Venkateswara I was elected to the coveted post of Vice-President of India, says M. Venkaiah Naidu. “I have come from a common farmer's family. Being elected as vice-president, the second highest position in Indian Constitution, with the benign blessings of Lord Venkateswara was the most important day in my life,” expressed Venkaiah.

The vice-president elect offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala on Monday with his family members days before he would take over the much-coveted position. Mr Venkaiah was later offered Vedasirvachanam in Ranganayakula Mandapam. TTD EO A.K. Singhal and Tirumala JEO K.S. Sreenivasa Raju presented theertha prasadams as well as laminated photo of Lord Venkateswara to the leader.

Later, speaking to mediapersons outside the temple, the V-P elect said, “I have been visiting Tirumala temple since my eighth standard. Everything I have attained in my life has been with the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. I get new energy and inspiration each time I offer prayers to Lord. I thank everyone who supported me to reach this position where I am now today.” He added, “I always love to be with people. Even after assuming charge as vice-president of India, I will try to reach out to people as per protocol. They are my oxygen. I prayed to the Lord to bless the people and the nation with prosperity.”