Rich tributes paid to Muddukrishnama Naidu

Tirupati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid respects to the mortal remains of former Minister, senior TDP leader and MLC Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu at his native village Venkatramapuram of Ramachandrapuram mandal in Chittoor district on Wednesday.

Muddukrishnama Naidu breathed his last in the early hours of Wednesday in Hyderabad while he was suffering from dengue fever. The Chief Minister spoke to the family members of the departed leader and condoled his death. Ministers K Atchannaidu, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao and P Narayana also accompanied the Chief Minister and paid tributes to Muddukrishnama Naidu.

Chittoor Collector P S Pradyumna and other people’s representatives also paid their respects to the departed soul. Later, speaking to the media, the Chief Minister expressed shock over the sudden demise of Muddukrishnama Naidu. “I just could not believe this and destiny was so powerful. I had close relations with him and I am not able to digest his demise. After coming back from Dubai I wanted to talk to him personally. But before I left for Dubai he left us and it is painful,” the Chief Minister said.

Recalling his long association with Muddukrishnama Naidu, the Chief Minister said, “He was very close to me and we worked together. People have been his first priority always and he used to mingle with everybody all the time. I have seen many people but this type of personality is very rare. The vacuum caused in the party due to his death will be difficult to fill,” Chandrababu Naidu said.

The Chief Minister said that he spoke to Muddukrishnama Naidu’s family members for almost one hour and assured that he will work towards fulfilling the wishes of the departed leader. He later reached Tirupati Airport and left for Dubai at 4.15 pm. He was seen off at the airport by the Ministers, district officials and other elected representatives. Meanwhile, Minister for Industries N Amaranatha Reddy, who is on a visit to Sweden, cut short his visit and is returning to India. He will reach Muddukrishnama Naidu’s native village by Thursday morning and participate in the funeral which will take place on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier, Muddukrishnama Naidu’s body reached Tirupati Airport by an air ambulance on Wednesday afternoon and it was then shifted to the village in an ambulance. AP Mahila Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari, CPI national secretary K Narayana and several others paid tributes to the departed leader. Former MP Chinta Mohan, in a press release, recalled the services rendered by Muddukrishnama Naidu to the people. He expressed condolences to the bereaved family. Several other leaders and workers cutting across party lines visited Venkatramapuram to pay their last respects to the former Minister.