Tirupati: The recent induction of Chaitanya Lalithambika, granddaughter of former TTD chairman and ex-MP late D.K. Audikesavulu Naidu, into the Jana Sena party has stirred political circles in the Rayalaseema region.
Chaitanya, who hails from the influential DK family that dominated Rayalaseema politics for decades, recently donned the Jana Sena scarf in the presence of party chief Pawan Kalyan. Observers view her foray into politics as a strategic move by the DK family to reclaim its lost political standing after facing a gradual decline in influence following the demise of its patriarch.
Late Audikesavulu Naidu, an infamous liquor baron and industrialist, was a Telugu Desam MP from Chittoor and also held the esteemed position of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board chairman. Known for his philanthropy and development initiatives, Audikesavulu Naidu left a lasting impact on the undivided Chittoor, Anantapur, and Kadapa districts.
The DK family, particularly Audikesavulu Naidu, played a crucial role in consolidating the political perspectives of the sizable Balija (Kapu) community across Rayalaseema. With influence extending into both the TD and Congress, DK enjoyed immense clout and was regarded as an elder figure within the community.
However, following Naidu’s demise, the DK family witnessed a gradual decline in influence. Although his wife, D.A. Satya Prabha, became the TD MLA for Chittoor and continued the family’s political legacy for some time before fading into political oblivion herself after unsuccessfully contesting the Rajampet assembly seat in 2019, Earlier, Naidu’s son, D. Adi Srinivas, faded into political oblivion after an unsuccessful bid for the Rajampet Lok Sabha seat on the Praja Rajyam Party ticket.
The family’s political troubles escalated with Satya Prabha’s passing and Srinivas facing legal issues, including an arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau on alleged drug charges. Consequently, the DK family distanced itself from electoral politics until Chaitanya’s recent entry into the Jana Sena.
Her entry into Jana Sena is expected to provide a fresh lease of life to the declining political fortunes of the once influential DK family, given its strong community ties in the region. It is also seen as a shot in the arm for Jana Sena itself to expand its limited base in the crucial Rayalaseema belt currently dominated by the YSR Congress.
Chaitanya has expressed confidence in reclaiming the family’s lost political ground in the region and has even indicated her readiness to contest from the Chittoor assembly constituency if the party deems it fit.
