Hyderabad: The highlight of the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s swearing-in ceremony on 12 June near Vijayawada was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s animated interaction with the Konidela brothers, Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan. Onstage, he brought them to the front, stood between them, and raised their arms in a jubilant gesture for a photo-op.

Missing in the frame—cherished by the supporters of Janasena Party, and fans of the Konidela “mega-family”—was Konidela Nagendra Babu, the middle brother of the Konidela trio. Chiranjeevi’s family is affectionately called the ‘mega-family” in the Telugu states, a nod to the actor’s iconic moniker, ‘mega-star’, and the numerous stars that have emerged from their household.

Six months after the formation of his government, N. Chandrababu Naidu—NDA alliance leader, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, and Andhra Pradesh CM—announced Monday night that Naga Babu would be inducted into the state cabinet.

Babu is neither an MLA or MLC in the Andhra Pradesh legislature, which means that from the date of his induction, he should be elected to either house within a six-month time.

Babu is likely to be elected to the council early next year when some seats become vacant.

The actual plan was to send Naga Babu to the Rajya Sabha as he could not contest from the Anakapalle Lok Sabha seat which went to the BJP in alliance seat adjustments for the 2024 general elections. There was also speculation that Babu would be made the chief of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which oversees the affairs of the Tirumala temple in Tirupati.

However, Naga Babu was denied a Parliament berth, as TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu chose to nominate Beeda Masthan Rao and Sana Sathish for two of the three Rajya Sabha by-election seats from Andhra Pradesh. The remaining seat was left for ally BJP, which, aiming to appeal to OBC voters, nominated R. Krishnaiah as its candidate.

The three Rajya Sabha seats became vacant after Beeda Masthan Rao, Mopidevi Venkataramana, and R. Krishnaiah, who had represented the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), resigned in August-September. Their resignations followed the rout of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party in both the state and general elections. Subsequently, Rao and Mopidevi joined the TDP.

Beeda Masthan Rao—a former TDP MLA from Kavali in Nellore who also owns a shrimp farming business—has been renominated by the TDP. Meanwhile, R. Krishnaiah, an OBC leader and former TDP MLA from Telangana, has been renominated by the BJP.

Although Pawan was keen on his brother, confidante Naga Babu entering the house of the elders, Naidu, sources said, had to convince his deputy to let go of the seat, “to accommodate” Sana Satish Babu. Sana is seen as TDP leader and minister Nara Lokesh’s man.

Sana Sathish, who began his career as a sub-engineer in the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Department, later reportedly rose to prominence in Hyderabad’s real estate sector and expanded into other industries over time. He had initially anticipated securing the Kakinada Lok Sabha ticket from the TDP for the 2024 elections. However, due to alliance adjustments, the seat was allocated to the Jana Sena Party, which won it along with Machilipatnam.

After the TDP-led alliance assumed power, Sana Sathish was elected as the Secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association in September.

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‘Stood by brother Pawan when the chips were down’ 

Naga Babu, like his two renowned brothers, is a well-known actor in the Telugu film industry, though his roles have primarily been confined to character and supporting parts. He has also produced a few films and is the father of Telugu film star Varun Tej. Babu’s daughter, Niharika, is also involved in the industry as both an actor and a producer.

According to JSP leaders, Naga Babu, JSP political affairs committee member, has been actively involved with the party since 2020, a year after its debut and massive debacle in the 2019 elections.

Unlike in 2024, when it won all 21 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested, JSP had suffered an almost complete defeat in the 2019 elections, losing every seat—including the two assembly segments contested by Pawan Kalyan—except one. The lone JSP MLA elected in 2019 had also unofficially sided with the YSRCP.

Even Naga Babu lost from the Narsapuram Lok Sabha, coming in third position.

“When the chips were down, and Pawan was struggling to stay relevant in AP politics, Babu joined him, standing firmly in support of his younger brother. He fervently defended Pawan from political and personal criticisms, often nasty. Babu also helped in party organisation. Which is why our supremo wanted to confer the due recognition on him,” Dr Sarat Kumar, a JSP leader, told ThePrint.

“True, the plan, desire was to go to Parliament, but a minister’s berth is a big thing. Kalyan and Babu are pleased,” said the leader.

Naidu’s cabinet, including him, has 25 members, and can accommodate one more, according to the rules. However, it is still unclear when Naga Babu will be inducted into the council of ministers, where his brother currently serves as the Deputy CM.

As of now, JSP is represented in three berths—Pawan Kalyan, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, and Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh.

After the NDA’s resounding victory in this election, JSP anticipated four berths.

With Naga Babu’s elevation, all three Konidela brothers will have made history by becoming ministers, either at the state or central level. Chiranjeevi previously served as the Union Minister of Tourism in the UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh. He also became a Rajya Sabha member after merging his PRP with Congress in 2011.

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