In a strategic move to quell searching questions over his wealth, the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday made public a list of his and his family's assets. The TD chief, who entered politics along with YSR in 1978, shot two birds with one stone by declaring his assets.

Naidu, who rallied behind Anna Hazare's anti-corruption crusade, found himself in a spot when leaders of various parties and civil society demanded that he make public his own assets. By doing so he hopes to silence his critics who accuse him of amassing illegal wealth starting with two acres of land in his native village to a whopping 2,000 crore. It also elevates his integrity in comparison with the YSR Congress chief, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is facing charges of corruption and for having amassed illegal wealth with the support of his late father.

However, Babu's 'open' declaration of assets drew both appreciation and criticism alike. Laxmi Parvathi, Mr Naidu's mother-in law alleged that Mr Naidu's total assets would be over 5,000 cr. "He is a great actor. Even if 20 Oscars are presented, it is less. Lokesh got Studio-N as gift after Mr Naidu formalised Jr NTR's marriage," she said. She added that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim was involved in the Naidu property dispute in Singapore.
The TRS and the YSR Congress alleged that Mr Naidu has highly undervalued his properties. They wanted him to face a CBI probe. Dr Shravan, TRS leader, said, "Mr Naidu declared the value of his house in 1998 at 1.5 crore and now he says it's worth only 23.20 lakh. Did not Mr Naidu provide a Cabinet berth to Mr Bolla Buliramaiah at the Centre for investing in Heritage Foods? Murali Mohan was made chairman of the AP Film Development Corporation. Mohan Babu got an MP seat," he said.

Incidentally, in the past, Mr. Naidu too faced corruption charges, which are still persisting. Naidu has been accused of providing cabinet berth to Bolla Bulliramaiah, who invested in Heritage Foods, owned by Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari. During Naidu's tenure as chief minister, one of the ministers in his cabinet, Krishna Yadav was involved in Rs. 32000 crore fake stamp paper racket. Naidu government also obtained stay over justice Somasekhara commission, that was probing the Yeleru Scam. Telugu Desam senior leaders Thummala Nageswara Rao and Mandava Venkateswara Rao got HC stay against ACB court finding prima facie evidence of irregularities in the Rs. 513 crore liquor purchases.