Between 2014 and 2019, he regularly addressed the media, often criticising the Chandrababu Naidu government actions that indirectly benefited the YSR Congress.
At the time, his voice carried weight and influence.
In recent times, his media appearances have become infrequent, and public interest in his press meets has clearly declined.
On Monday, Undavalli resurfaced in the media, voicing support for the INDI Alliance's Vice Presidential candidate, Justice Sudarshan Reddy. The election is scheduled for Tuesday.
He urged Telugu MPs to back Justice Reddy, stating, "TDP MPs should vote for Sudarshan Reddy for the self-respect of Telugus. I don't understand why Jagan is supporting a candidate from the same alliance that defeated him."
He went on to claim that voting for the NDA candidate is equivalent to endorsing RSS ideology, saying, "Modi and Amit Shah made the previous Vice President flee."
However, numbers tell a different story. The INDI Alliance has fielded a candidate in what appears to be a losing battle. With a total strength of 786 in both Houses, the victory mark is 394. The NDA, with 422 members in support, is set to comfortably win.
Many believe Undavalli's statements are aimed at sowing discord between TDP and BJP, who currently share a pre-poll alliance. It's highly likely TDP will vote for the NDA-backed candidate.
Instead, observers suggest Undavalli should focus more on why Jagan Mohan Reddy is supporting the NDA candidate rather than dragging TDP into the spotlight.
As for his comments about RSS ideology, they seem more like personal opinions than reflective of any broader political mood.
Voting for the Vice Presidential election begins at 10 AM on Tuesday and concludes at 5 PM. Counting will commence at 6 PM on the same day.
Tags: Andhra NewsUndavalli Arun Kumar
Sridhar RaaviSridhar is a highly experienced hand in Telugu politics, writing and analyzing political happenings in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. An IT engineer turned news junkie, Sridhar has a sharp eye for catching news as it unfo…