Maverick YSR Congress Party leader and former minister Kodali Venkateshwar Rao, alias Kodali Nani, is likely to opt out of politics in the coming years to pave the way for his nephew Kodali Arjun to lead party activities in his Gudivada constituency.
During a YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) meeting at Gudivada on Tuesday to create awareness among the party cadre about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, another senior YSRCP leader and former minister Perni Nani announced that Kodali Arjun would replace his uncle in Gudivada in the 2034 Assembly elections.
The meeting was attended by Kodali Nani, along with several senior YSRCP leaders. Perni Nani declared that Kodali Arjun would be the political successor of Kodali Nani and would contest the elections in future.
Kodali Arjun is the son of Kodali Nani’s brother and has been increasingly active in Gudivada YSRCP affairs in recent months.
His presence on the dais alongside senior party leaders during the seminar further fuelled speculation about his formal political entry.
Going by Perni Nani’s comments, Kodali Nani himself is likely to contest the 2029 Assembly elections and continue in politics till 2034, if he wins. If he does not win in 2029, he may quit politics and hand over the baton to Arjun.
Kodali Nani has two daughters, but he had earlier indicated that no one from his immediate family was interested in entering politics.
He had repeatedly stated in the past that his brother’s son Arjun would eventually carry forward his political legacy.
During the 2024 elections as well, Kodali Nani had publicly declared Arjun as his political heir. At the time, he had remarked that the 2024 elections would likely be his last electoral contest.
Referring to his age, he had said he would be around 58 by the time of the 2029 elections and might not be willing to contest again. However, the party leadership reportedly wants him to contest in 2029 as well.
Following Perni Nani’s latest remarks, discussions have intensified in political circles that Kodali Arjun’s political debut has now been formally confirmed.
