Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has had a roller-coaster political career spanning over four-and-a-half decades.
After facing numerous challenges, he once again masterminded his political revival, staying relevant in national politics, much like he did at the turn of the century. In 2024, Naidu not only formed a coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, but also became a pivotal partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Despite the challenges that marked his career, particularly following the TDP’s defeat in the 2019 elections, Naidu managed to regain his political foothold. The TDP’s disappointing electoral performance and the alleged high-handedness of the previous YSRCP government added to his woes.
The YSRCP, with its sweeping 151-seat victory, relentlessly targeted the TDP, to the point where Naidu even boycotted the Assembly after derogatory comments were made against his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, by YSRCP leaders.
Riding on the “Why not 175” slogan, YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also challenged Naidu’s political strength by mocking his ability to retain his stronghold in the Kuppam Assembly constituency, where he had won seven consecutive terms.
Undeterred by these provocations, Naidu waged a relentless political battle, refusing to let his reputation and self-respect be tarnished. His determination bore fruit in 2024 when he led the TDP to a resounding victory in the general elections.
This resurgence mirrors his role in the 1999 elections, when Naidu played a critical part in the formation of the NDA government at the Centre. The alliance’s success, in turn, had a lasting impact on the development of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
With the 2024 victory, Naidu is once again positioned as a key player in the political landscape, giving hope to the people of Andhra Pradesh for the revival of the financially struggling State.
Sources suggest that Naidu was instrumental in the decision-making processes that led to revolutionary developments in sectors like national highways, telecommunications, and technology during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Now a crucial partner in the Union government, Naidu has remained focused on the needs of Andhra Pradesh. He requested the Centre to provide much-needed oxygen to the State, which he claimed was on “ventilator” due to the mismanagement of the previous YSRCP government.
In addition to his efforts to secure support from the Centre, Naidu also released seven white papers outlining the state of key departments to present the facts to the people.
His focus on all-around development was evident in the creation of the Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 document, which aims to make the state self-sustainable. In his first month in office, Naidu took steps to alleviate the financial burden on citizens by increasing social security pensions to RS 4,000 and disbursing Rs 3,000 in arrears. His coalition government also implemented the Deepam-2 scheme, one of the ‘Super Six’ promises made during the election campaign.
While Naidu’s comeback has been impressive, the year 2025 will bring new challenges. He will need to deliver on his remaining promises, including fast-tracking two of the state’s most prestigious projects, Amaravati and Polavaram.
