Much like his movies where he often essays supporting roles, Konidela Nagendra Babu, also known as Naga Babu, has been a strong pillar of support for his brother, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and JanaSena Party (JSP) founder Pawan Kalyan. Babu, who is currently the national general secretary of the JSP, finally seems to have got his “reward”. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Monday that Naga Babu, 63, would be inducted into the state Cabinet as a minister. Consistently seen by Kalyan’s side since the actor launched his JSP in 2014, the road to the Cabinet has not been easy for Babu. Unlike his two brothers – Kalyan and Chiranjeevi – Babu did not rise to superstardom through his films. Electorally too, his debut ended in defeat. In his first election, the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he finished third behind the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidates, while securing over 2.5 lakh votes. After his defeat and the JSP’s subsequent alliance with the TDP and BJP ahead of the 2024 simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, he held the fort for Kalyan in his constituency, Pithapuram, while the JSP chief embarked on his statewide campaign. “Babu garu has been an integral part of the JSP since its inception. We are happy that he will finally get his due. He has firmly stood by Kalyan garu and has taken on his opponents head-on,” a close aide of Kalyan, who has been with the JSP since its inception, told The Indian Express. The reference appeared to also be to the fact that Babu was let down during the recent Lok Sabha polls, when he did not get the expected ticket from the Anakapalle Lok Sabha seat. The constituency went to the BJP as a part of the seat-sharing agreement in the JSP-TDP-BJP alliance. Following the alliance’s massive victory, where it won 164 of the state’s 175 Assembly and 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, buzz surrounding Babu’s elevation as the chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board had gained momentum. Eventually, reportedly due to the caste conundrum, the NDA government appointed B R Naidu to the post. Babu was also one of the favourites for a Rajya Sabha nomination after three YSRCP MPs resigned from the Upper House, necessitating bypolls. However, again, he was left out. A TDP leader said the party too wanted its own leaders in the Rajya Sabha. "We wanted two seats while we were ready to give one to either the BJP or the JSP. The BJP was keen on the seat and hence the JSP did not get it." JSP sources said the party was prepared for such a scenario, and hence the contingency plan of ministership. “We were allotted four Cabinet berths when the NDA came to power in Andhra. However, only three ministers – Kalyan, Tenali MLA Nadendla Manohar and Nidadavole legislator Kandula Durgesh – took oath as ministers. With six MLC seats likely to be vacant soon. we will make Babu garu a minister through the MLC quota,” K Ranga Babu, the JSP’s Assembly coordinator of Pithapuram, told The Indian Express. Andhra can have 26 ministers and currently one post is vacant.
