Narender’s lucky run continues

Warangal: It’s a wonderful run for Nannapuneni Narender, son of a lorry driver, who got elected from Warangal East constituency in politics in the recent elections to the Telangana Assembly. Indeed, it’s a meteoric rise for Narender, who first got elected as the Greater Warangal Mayor and little under three years he got an opportunity to enter the Assembly.

Narender, who hails from a lower middle class, worked his way with grit and determination. Narender’s father Narsimha Murthy died in a road accident when he was pursuing his graduation. To run his family, he worked in a wine shop and also engaged in vegetable and other small businesses.

A commerce graduate Narender made his political debut when he became an independent director of the Kalpalatha Cooperative Super Bazar in 1993. Thereafter, he joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1995 and worked in different capacities. He was elected as a Corporator in 2005.

Later, he joined Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2009 and later became TRS urban president in 2012. During this period, he faced life threatening health issues, however, he came back strongly.

In 2014 Narender, who was certain to contest from Warangal East Assembly constituency, made way for Konda Surekha, who had then just joined the TRS, at the behest of the leadership.

Then K Chandrashekar Rao reportedly promised Narender to give him the Mayor post. Subsequently, KCR made Narender the Mayor of Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation in 2016. Against this backdrop, the TRS leadership dissolved the Assembly and went for early polls.

The TRS leadership, which renominated almost all the sittings, didn’t include Konda Surekha. Following which Surekha deserted the party and joined the Congress. The development came like a shot in the arm for Narender. KCR gave him the opportunity to contest from Warangal East seat, this despite the latter had more than two years of Mayoral term left.

Even though it was his first election to the Assembly, Narender campaigned gallantly coordinating with other senior leaders of the party. He trounced his nearest rival Vaddiraj Ravichandra of the Congress with a margin of 28,603 votes.

Speaking to The Hans India, Narender said: “It’s all because of KCR’s governance, which focused especially for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. People reposed their faith in TRS party while disregarding the Congress-led Praja Kutami (People’s Front). It’s a Godsend opportunity and I will strive hard for the development of Warangal.”