NDA's Vice-President pick: Venkaiah-ism and the many shades of no-nonsense

Naidu never speaks off the record; he says his bluff, hearty style is prone to be misunderstood

This article first appeared on Business Standard on August 31, 2015

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M Venkaiah Naidu is the only person in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who became president of the party, resigned from the post and later accepted the post of vice-president: In a typical Venkaiah-ism he called it a de-promotion.

For reporters covering the urban development and parliamentary affairs ministries in the National Democratic Alliance government, the way is paved with such witticisms. Naidu is proud of the fact that he never speaks to reporters off-the-record. He has a bluff, hearty, no-nonsense style - that can be misunderstood.