Till a few months ago, Surabhi Vani Devi, daughter of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, was a persona non grata for any political party in the state.
She was known only an academician who never evinced interest in carrying forward the political legacy of her father. Two of her brothers who had a brief stint in politics are no more now; and no political party was bothered to entertain her.
But Vani Devi suddenly was brought into limelight by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi headed by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the occasion of P V Narasimha Rao’s birth centenary.
KCR made her a key member of the PV Centenary Celebrations Committee and to her pleasant surprise, announced her as the TRS candidate for the MLC elections from Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahabubnagar graduates’ constituency.
Many people thought KCR was only making Vani Devi a scapegoat for his political interests, but he mobilised all his resources and ensured that she won the MLC seat. And thus, Vani began her political innings at this late hour of her life.
According to latest reports, KCR is also contemplating honouring Vani Devi with an important post that would further enhance not only her image, but also the credibility of the TRS in the public.
It is learnt KCR might offer state legislative council chairperson post to Vani Devi, so that she would have a dignified role to play, instead of being a mere member of the council.
He could have given her a cabinet post, but there is already tough competition for the same from the party leaders including his own daughter K Kavitha.
So, by giving her the state legislative council chairperson post, the party would be respecting her stature as the former Prime Minister’s daughter.
At present, former MP Guttha Sukhender Reddy is the chairman of legislative council, but he is said to be facing a lot of health problems and wants to step down from the post. Therefore, KCR might replace him with Vani Devi.
“A decision is expected after the Nagarjunasagar by-elections,” sources said.
