Vice-President

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu being offered sweets by his wife at home, after he was announced NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI photo)

Venkaiah Naidu being offered sweets by his wife at home, after he was announced as the

's

in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI photo)

'MODI- Making of Developed India'

NEW DELHI: From a humble agricultural family in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district to the highest echelons of power in Lutyens Delhi, it has been a long journey on the political path for 68-year-old Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu It was his enthusiasm to play kabaddi that brought him in association with the RSS way back in 1963. Love for the game led him to the local Sangh group, which played regularly in his neighborhood during his childhood days.A friend took him there and the association has continued till today.In 1967, Naidu joined the ABVP as a young student and rose through the ranks to become the national president of the Sangh's student wing.Naidu was an ABVP activist during the Emergency and was arrested and jailed.The student leader graduated to join the Jan Sangh in 1973 and was highly influenced by Jan Sangh leaders Jagannath Rao Joshi and Bal Apte.Known for his oratory, Naidu won two closely-fought assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. In 1973, he won the only non-Congress seat from the Udaigiri region out of 11 seats there. Despite the NTR wave in 1978, he managed to retain his seat.These victories helped his rising political graph and he quickly moved on to the national politiscape.Naidu was never a member of Lok Sabha. He was, however, elected to the Rajya Sabha three times from Karnataka. At present, he represents Rajasthan in the Upper House of Parliament.The former BJP national president currently holds the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting and Housing and Urban Affairs. He was also Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in the Modi government."A farmer's son, M Venkaiah Naidu Garu brings years of experience in public life and is admired across the political spectrum," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet, using a Telugu word of respect."I know M Venkaiah Naidu Garu for years. Have always admired his hardwork and tenacity. A fitting candidate for the office of," he added.Known for coining acronyms, Naidu termed the mission of the Modi government aswhich had become the official line of the Centre in its public outreach campaign on the occasion of three years of being in office.As the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, he was always quick to present issues in perspective with effective repartee as and when required.As Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, which was recently merged as Housing and Urban Affairs, Naidu pioneered the launch of several new urban missions, including the Smart City Mission, Atal Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and Housing for All.As Rural Development Minister, Naidu was instrumental in launching the hugely popular 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana'.The veteran party leader also served as the BJP national president from July 2002 to October 2004.He quit the post after the party's defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections."I was always an admirer of Atal ji (Vajpayee) but my ideological mentor has been Advani ji (LK Advani)," Naidu has often said while talking to reporters.From Yuva Morcha president to national BJP president, the seasoned union minister has seen a lot and has been a part of the BJP from the days of the party's inception. Now he is set to be the Vice-President of the country.(With inputs from PTI)