Senior YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and ex-Gudivada MLA Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao, alias Kodali Nani, is on a recuperation break at his home in Hyderabad. The veteran politician recently underwent treatment for cardiac complications at a top hospital in Mumbai and has returned. But reliable sources indicate he is now set to leave for the United States for more sophisticated medical treatment.
Since his return, Nani has kept a low political profile. Other than a handful of close confidants, he has not been receiving visitors. After the YSRCP’s humiliating defeat in the recent polls, the former minister is said to have kept away from politics and even his fief Gudivada. His unavailability has attracted the concern of party cadres and political insiders as well.
Aiding fuel to the rumors are insiders who cite increasing unease about possible lawsuits. Nani is thought to be anxious over possible suits against him, which may be a contributing factor in his illness as well as his reserved public persona.
Kodali Nani, a minister in the first half of the YSRCP government, was famous for his combative political narrative. He was frequently in the news for making bold and provocative statements, most often targeting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh.
Now that the new coalition government is in office, serious corruption and abuse of power charges during his tenure as MLA and minister have surfaced. A vigilance inquiry is presently on, particularly concerning activities in the Gudivada constituency.
Speculation is mounting that Nani may be seeking to travel abroad before any formal legal action is initiated. Yet, sources indicate that the government is keeping a close eye on his activities, perhaps making such plans a complication. With arguments raging about whether the planned U.S. visit is truly for health issues or a tactical maneuver to escape legal restraints, eyes are now on the activities in the coming weeks.
