On Thursday, Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is celebrating his birthday and he is being flooded with wishes from his party leaders, workers and fans from all parts of the Telugu states.
So far so good. But there was an interesting tweet from Naidu’s biggest political critic – YSR Congress party general secretary and Rajya Sabha member V Vijay Sai Reddy, who is known for attacking the TDP president in the most abusive language till recently.
However, on Wednesday, Sai Reddy was at his courteous best when he greeted Naidu on the latter’s birthday.
“Happy Birthday to TDP President and Leader of Opposition Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Wishing you many more happy birthdays with perfect health and long life,” the YSRC leader tweeted.
Naturally, Sai Reddy’s tweet evoked a huge response from the netizens. Many of them complimented him for being courteous in extending greetings to Naidu despite the political differences.
“CBN never uses foul language sir - but the way you tweeted about him (in the past) was very bad. But after Tarak’s death there is lot of change in you. Politics ante oppose chesukovali kani - ysrcp went beyond the limits. You earn our respect for this change in you,” tweeted one netizen.
“We never expected this tweet from you sir,” said one netizen, while another person said Sai Reddy was a changed man. “You should be like this always sir,” said one more netizen.
In fact, on Naidu’s birthday on April 20 in 2021, Sai Reddy made pungent and abusive comments against the TDP chief.
“Birthday wishes to 420 (April 20) who is celebrating his birthday in the neighbouring state since he has wound up his offices in Andhra Pradesh. Moreover, this man gives a message to his party people not to celebrate his birthday in a grand way because of Coronavirus. Already your people are following the message of “no party, no bokka..” Mr Babu, they don’t need your briefing again!” Sai Reddy tweeted then.
This year’s birthday wish was completely different and it clearly showed that Sai Reddy is a politically transformed man. In fact, not just this message, Sai Reddy has stopped making pungent and abusive comments on anybody on the social media, after he was elevated to the position of panel chairperson of Rajya Sabha.
With regard to attitude towards Naidu, Sai Reddy has been going soft ever since both of them had a friendly chat at the residence of Nandamuri Taraka Ratna who passed away due to heart attack a couple of months ago. Both of them sat together and spoke for some time, after paying their tributes to the actor.
Sai Reddy was seen seeing off Naidu when the latter was getting into his car to leave the place. Taraka Ratna was a relative to both Naidu and Sai Reddy. By doing so, Sai Reddy sent a message that there is nothing personal between the two and they were only political opponents.
While Sai Reddy set a good example by wishing Naidu, the other YSRC leaders did not display the same attitude. YSRC social media in-charge Gurram Devender Reddy did not control his hatred for Naidu.
“Hearty birthday wishes to forty-years industry, 420 awardee, Srimaan emperor of liquor industry, @ncbn. Wish he leads rest of his life seething with resentment and jealously on watching the people-friendly rule of Jagan in the coming days but not able to do anything else,” he tweeted.