It has been a long time since former minister Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao, husband of Andhra Pradesh BJP president and MP Daggubati Purandeshwari, was actively involved in politics.
After losing the assembly elections from Parchur in Prakasam district in 2019 on a YSR Congress Party ticket, Daggubati has largely stayed away from politics. Although he quit the YSRCP long ago, he never formally announced his retirement from politics.
However, on Saturday, Daggubati officially declared that he is retiring from politics.
Speaking at the inauguration of a drinking water plant in Karamchedu, which was attended by Purandeshwari, Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar, and MLA Sambasiva Rao, he said this would be his last public appearance.
"I decided long ago not to contest elections, and I have no regrets about it. I am retiring from politics happily. I cannot afford to spend Rs 20 crore to contest the assembly elections, and if I win, I would have to spend another Rs 30 crore. So, I have decided to stay away from politics," he said.
Daggubati expressed that, in a way, he felt fortunate to be removed from the current political scene.
"Even after spending large sums of money to win elections, politicians often face criticism from the public," he lamented.
He cited the example of Chirala MLA Kondaiah, who spent his own money to pay salaries for expert swimmers to prevent accidents at Chirala Beach.
"Yet, the media reported allegations that he was collecting money from resort owners. Even when raising donations for flood victims, the MLA was accused of corruption," Daggubati said, adding that he was lucky to avoid such accusations by staying out of politics.