Professor Appa Rao Podile, currently in the eye of the Rohith Vemula storm, is beleivbed to have reached this position today mainly due to political connections, his networking abilities and also great lobbying skills.This is the accusation made by some academic circles, that was printed in national media today.
Appa Rao is believed to have outsmarted over 35 candidates who had been desiring to lead prestigious University of Hyderabad and he then became the vice-chancellor in September 2015, mainly due to strong support from Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, it is being said.
A native of the Thullur village in the new capital city region of Andhra Pradesh, Appa Rao was reportedly been working in University of Hyderabad for last two decades. He was the chief warden from 2001 to 2004 when Chandrababu Naidu was CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
It is being said that if Venkaiah who had pushed Appa Rao's candidature for the top post in the UoH to HRD minister Smriti Irani. Appa Rao is also reportedly a relative of a former TDP MP-and lobbyist from AP and hence even Chandrababu Naidu too reportedly backed Rao's name.
