Venkaiah Naidu: From studnet union to Vice President's office - a look at his journey

Vice President-elect Venkaiah Naidu is all set to take oath on Friday. Veteran BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu was elected as the 15th Vice President of India after he received 516 out of electoral college of 785 votes during poll.

Before assuming the office, Venkaiah said that India is best model of secularism. He added that despite having so many different languages and dressings, India is united as one nation. He added that unity in diversity is India's speciality.

Vice President-elect Venkaiah Naidu’s political journey

Vice President-elect and former Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu has had a meteoric rise in politics.

Venkaiah Naidu was born to Rangaiah Naidu and Ramanamma, in the family of farmers at Chavatapalem in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on July 1, 1949. After completing his graduation, Naidu pursued law from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam.

Since childhood, he was interested in politics and joined ABVP in 1973 as a student leader. He gained huge popularity on account of his outspoken nature and great communication skills.

Naidu actively participated in 'Jai Andhra Movement' of 1972. His leadership skills helped his political career and he won the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections twice in 1978 and 1983 from Udayagiri constituency. He also served as Union minister for rural development in the ministry of Vajpayee Government.

Positions held

1. 1973–74: President, Students Union, Andhra University

2. 1974: Convener, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Yuvajana Chatra Sangharsha   Samithi, Andhra Pradesh

3. 1977–80: President, Youth Wing of Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh

4. 1978–85: Member, Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh (2 terms)

5. 1980–85: Leader, B.J.P Legislative Party in Andhra Pradesh

6. 1985–88: general secretary, Andhra Pradesh State B.J.P.

7. 1988-93: President, Andhra Pradesh State B.J.P.

8. 1993 – September 2000: National general secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party Secretary, B.J.P. Parliamentary Board Secretary, B.J.P. Central Election Committee Spokesperson of the B.J.P.

9. Since 1998: Member, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka (3 terms)

10. 30 September 2000 to 1 July 2002: Minister of Rural Development, Government of India

11. 1 July 2002 to 5 October 2004: National President, Bharatiya Janata Party

12. April 2005 onwards: National Vice-President, Bharatiya Janata Party.

13. 2014–2017: Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs

14. 2016–2017: Minister of Information and Broadcasting