PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE
Newly elected Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh Vijay Chintakayala on Thursday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and donated his first salary as a Member of Parliament to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
Presenting the contribution to the Defence Minister, Chintakayala said it was an honour for him to dedicate his first salary in Parliament to the welfare of armed forces personnel, veterans and their families.
The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, instituted on April 13, 1993, after merging various existing welfare funds, supports welfare and rehabilitation measures for needy ex-servicemen, war widows, disabled veterans and their dependants.
Chintakayala said the gesture was inspired by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National Working President Nara Lokesh’s emphasis on putting the nation first and respecting the sacrifices of the armed forces.
“Our National Working President, Shri Nara Lokesh Ji, has often spoken about how the Hon’ble Prime Minister has spent 12 Diwalis with our armed forces, standing alongside those who guard our nation. His words on putting the nation first, while upholding the self-respect and pride of Telugu people, have left a deep impression on me,” he said.
He added that Lokesh’s words had inspired him to make the contribution as he began his parliamentary journey. “I see this gesture as a humble step in the footsteps of a leadership that places service before self and is working towards building a stronger Bharat together,” Chintakayala said.
Chintakayala was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh in June 2026 and took oath as a Member of Parliament on June 25, 2026.
