Chandrababu Naidu in jail, wife Bhuvaneshwari steps out from the shadows

As part of this, Bhuvaneswari will visit families of those who allegedly died of shock after hearing about Naidu’s arrest.

Andhra Pradesh TDP president K Atchennaidu says that her yatra could be a “big success” and that she has been able to build a “ good connection with people”.

Within the TDP cadre, Bhuvaneshwari is considered a “soft spoken” person who would rarely make an appearance at political events alongside Naidu.

She had been in the news in November 2021, when during an acrimonious exchange in the Andhra Assembly, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders made personal comments about Naidu’s family. At a press conference later, Naidu broke down and said he would protest in the Assembly against the “ugly character assassination” of him.

Bhuvaneswari has been making public appearances after Naidu’s arrest on September 15. She spoke to the media several times after visiting him in the Rajamahendravaram Central Jail.

“My husband’s life is in danger in jail. He has lost 5 kg already due to the bad conditions in his jail cell and if he loses more weight, then it would affect his kidneys. He had a skin infection which has got aggravated due to the hot and humid conditions in the jail cell,” she said.

Bhuvaneshwari has also been more active across her social media. On Monday, a day before she began the yatra, she wrote that she went to the Tirumala temple for the first time without her husband Chandrababu Naidu. “I used to come here with my family members… This trip made me very sad,” she said.

Sharing pictures with women supporters, Bhuvaneshwari wrote on Wednesday: “Dear sisters, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support during these challenging times. This isn’t merely a battle for justice…but a struggle to uphold the principles of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution… It’s a fight for our future, for the safety of women, for the well-being of our children, and for the generations to come. I am deeply indebted to each of you for your commitment to this cause, and I am filled with hope knowing that you stand beside us in this endeavor. Together, we will emerge victorious, and justice will ultimately prevail.”