Former TTD chief Adikesavulu Naidu dies

Former Lok Sabha Member and also former TTD chairman D K Adikesavulu Naidu passed away at his own hospital, Vaidehi Institute of Medical Sciences, here on Wednesday while undergoing treatment. He was 71 and is survived by wife Sathya Prabha, son D A Srinivasulu and two daughters. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago due to a cardiac problem and underwent by-pass surgery only two days ago. His condition deteriorated soon and was put under intensive critical care.

CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy conveyed heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family and said that the State had lost an eminent industrialist and a great people's servant in the death of DK.A Naidu was born in Chittoor to Dalawayi Krishnaswamy and Rukmini on July 1, 1941. He began his career as a Chittoor district cooperative sugar factory worker and within a short period he was elevated as the workers' union leader.

He entered politics through Congress party and after N T Rama Rao floated Telugu Desam, he joined it. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Chittoor in 2004. He was appointed on the committees of health and family welfare and coal and steel from August 2007 till 2009.

He left TDP and joined Congress Party following a controversy during a vote the nuclear deal. His vote saved the UPA. He was appointed as the TTD chairman for two terms. The controversial 'Ananda Nilayam � Anantha Swarnamayam' was his dream project. His son DA Srinivasulu contested from Rajampet parliamentary constituency in 2009 on behalf of Praja Rajyam Party, but lost to Congress' Sai Prathap.

Adikesavulu Naidu was instrumental in setting up 'Jala Nidhi' scheme of TTD. He had close ties with liquor baron Vijay Malya and was a follower of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Naidu floated Srinivasa Educational Trust and established engineering college in Chittoor. He was also chairman of VIMS. On behalf of the trust, he came forward to publish a common language script for both Telugu and Kannada at his own cost.