BJP MLA Kamineni to quit active politics

Amaravati: BJP senior leader and former minister Kamineni Srinivas announced his retirement from active politics on his 72nd  birthday on Monday. Srinivas, who is representing Kaikaluru Assembly seat from BJP, served as health and medical education minister in Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s Cabinet till TDP withdrew from the BJP-led NDA in March this year. 

In a statement, Srinivas said that he had served to his Assembly constituency as promised during the election campaign. “I have been practising ethical politics. I wanted to continue the same. I was elected with the blessings of the then BJP leader and present Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu and served as per the expectations of people,” he said. 

In fact, politicians in both TDP and BJP believed that Srinivas may shift his loyalty to the TDP after its break up with the BJP. Giving credence to this belief, the former minister met Chandrababu Naidu several times after quitting the Cabinet. But he unexpectedly made this announcement of relinquishing active politics.  Sources said the TDP has already offered him Assembly ticket in the upcoming elections but he rejected it.

A TDP leader told The Hans India it may be difficult for Srinivas, a medical doctor by profession, to join TDP as his political mentor M Venkaiah Naidu is still in BJP. “Srinivas was unable to join TDP since Venkaiah is in BJP. Even though Venkaiah became Vice-President, he still is affiliated with BJP,” he said.

When contacted, BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana feigned ignorance on the development saying that he did not receive any communication from the party legislator.