N. Chandrababu Naidu’s fourth comeback to power has been the most dramatic and forceful in his 50- year political career. In his latest innings as Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Naidu enjoys robust leverage at the Centre as an important NDA ally and weakened opposition at home, which makes him one of the strongest politicians in India in the reckoning
In early September of 2023, a visibly tired N. Chandrababu Naidu sat in an old wooden chair, looking vacantly out of the window of a local court room in Vijayawada. Though Naidu had a battery of lawyers at his disposal, he chose to argue for bail himself. It had been almost 36 hours since his arrest in the alleged skill development scam case that was filed by the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government, dating back to 2014 after it swept to power earlier that year in Andhra Pradesh. The effect of sleep deprivation and lack of food was evident on his face. After the conclusion of arguments from both sides, the anti corruption court rejected Naidu’s bail plea and sent him to judicial custody for 14 days in the Rajahmundry Central Jail. The fast-paced developments in the early days of September 2023 were beyond the comprehension of many in the state. It was unimaginable that a politician of Naidu’s stature could be treated like a common criminal. Many considered it the final chapter for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) politically. Earlier, the TDP hadn’t even contested the local body elections. It had been wiped out of the Rajya Sabha—the first time since the party’s inception.
But just eight months later Naidu was all smiles, looking very confident, sitting next to Narendra Modi at the NDA meeting held at the prime minister’s official residence. The meeting concluded with NDA allies reposing faith in Modi to lead the government at the Centre for the third time with the TDP being a crucial partner with 21 MPs. This too stunned many political observers in the state. Naidu had risen like a phoenix from the ashes of ignominy to wipe out Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections that were held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh. It was a dream comeback for the septuagenarian politician. In just a few months he had become one of the most powerful chief ministers in India. Some even believe that in the Modi 3.0 government, Naidu is the fifth most powerful and influential politician.
A Political Bahubali
Naidu’s political journey over the past couple of years has been nothing short of phenomenal, rivalling the dramatic twists and turns of a blockbuster film script, reminiscent of legendary director S.S. Rajamouli’s masterpieces.
Naidu hopes to leverage his close ties with the top BJP leadership to secure funding for several of his ambitious projects in the state
The rift began in 2018 when Chandrababu Naidu parted ways with the NDA due to the Central government’s refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu launched a scathing attack on PM Modi, organising multiple dharnas and criticising him personally. In retaliation, Modi targeted Naidu during his 2019 election rallies. Meanwhile, the Jana Sena party led by Pawan Kalyan decided to contest alone. The 2019 elections saw Jagan Mohan Reddy emerge victorious, securing an unprecedented 151 seats out of 175 and 51% of the vote share. Since then, Jagan Mohan Reddy had been relentless in his attacks on Naidu and the TDP, attempting to dismantle their support systems. The final blow came when Naidu was imprisoned. Many speculated that Jagan Mohan Reddy would also jail Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh. However, Lokesh worked tirelessly to secure his father’s bail. Amidst this uncertainty, Pawan Kalyan visited Naidu in jail and announced a Jana Sena alliance with the TDP. Kalyan vowed to convince the BJP high command to support this alliance, even sacrificing Jana Sena seats to the BJP. However, the BJP expressed dissatisfaction with the welfare schemes outlined in Naidu’s manifesto, with Siddharth Nath Singh refusing to be photographed holding the document
In the scorching summer of 2024, 74-year-old Chandrababu Naidu defied age and exhaustion, campaigning tirelessly across numerous constituencies—surpassing even the efforts of his 42 year-old son and 54-year-old ally, Pawan Kalyan. The NDA alliance secured a landslide victory, winning 164 out of 175 Assembly seats, with the TDP alone claiming 135 of the 144 it contested. Chandrababu Naidu made history by becoming chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time, marking a milestone in his illustrious 50-year political career. However, this tenure is poised to be the most challenging yet, as the state grapples with severe financial and administrative struggles, rendering leading it a daunting task .
A-Amaravati, P Polavaram
One of the primary factors contributing to Naidu’s defeat in 2019 was the lack of progress on the construction of Amaravati the new capital city, and the long-awaited Polavaram irrigation project. However, since his return to power, Naidu’s government has made these two projects a top priority, setting ambitious deadlines for their completion.
Amaravati is expected to be finished by 2028, while Polavaram is slated for completion by October 2026. Notably, both projects are massive undertakings that rely heavily on funding from the Modi government. Fortunately, Modi and Amit Shah have extended their full support to Andhra Pradesh, releasing substantial funds to facilitate the project’s progress. Naidu, who often refers to himself as the architect of Cyberabad, is now determined to showcase his capabilities in building a greenfield city like Amaravati. With the project’s revival underway, Naidu aims to transform Amaravati into a thriving hub, complete with top educational institutions, hotels, and hospitals. Naidu has set an ambitious goal to make Andhra Pradesh drought-free by completing the intra-state river linking project, with Polavaram playing a pivotal role in realising this vision. Recently, he announced plans to bring Godavari water to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region through the construction of the Banakacharla project. Estimated to cost a minimum of Rs 80,000 crore, the project’s expenses are likely to escalate if construction is delayed.
Accommodating the ambitious Pawan Kalyan is one of Naidu’s biggest challenges
Naidu’s rapport with globalists like Bill Gates has been instrumental in driving foreign investment in the state
He has another key initiative underway: transforming Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh’s financial capital, into a hub for Public Private-Partnership). There should be one entrepreneur in every household. Everyone in the state shall be happy and healthy. We will achieve a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. Per capita income will reach Rs 35.62 lakh from Rs 2.54 lakh,” said Naidu at the unveiling of the Swarnandhra-2047 vision document.
Super 6 – Trail by 4
Recently, NITI Aayog released its Financial Health Index Rankings for 2023 ranking Andhra Pradesh 17th out of 18 major states. In a shocking revelation, the report awarded zero marks for the state’s debt sustainability, underscoring the dire economic situation that had brought the state to the brink of collapse by the time Naidu assumed office. He now faces the daunting task of revitalising the state’s economy while simultaneously implementing the Super Six—a set of key manifesto schemes promised to the public during the election campaign. The government has initiated implementation of its six flagship schemes, starting with the provision of three free cooking gas cylinders to women. Additionally, a financial assistance program offering Rs 20,000 to every farmer will be launched with the next kharif season. Four more schemes are slated for implementation, including free bus travel for women on state-owned transportation, monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 for women, an annual assistance of Rs 15,000 for school-going students, and a guarantee of either 20 lakh jobs or financial assistance of Rs 3,000 for unemployed youth. The successful execution of these schemes hinges on substantial budget allocations, which, in turn, rely heavily on Central government funding. Effective implementation of these initiatives is crucial for the government to maintain public support and trust. Notably, Jagan Mohan Reddy has consistently emphasised the importance of credibility, thereby increasing pressure on the government to implement these schemes at all costs.
Naidu has reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the social welfare schemes outlined in the manifesto, albeit with a phased approach. Reports indicate that two key schemes—financial assistance for school-going students and free bus travel for women—are slated for implementation by the next financial year.
Balancing Lokesh and Pawan Kalyan
Maintaining good relations with alliance partners BJP and Jana Sena is crucial for the TDP. Currently, Naidu enjoys a cordial relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pawan Kalyan. However, some factions within the TDP are wary of these alliances, perceiving them as potential threats. A growing point of contention between TDP and Jana Sena supporters is the rising prominence of Nara Lokesh— Naidu’s son. Lokesh has transformed his public image through his Yuvagalam Padayatra, shedding his earlier persona and embracing a more assertive, youthful avatar. His efforts have led to a significant surge in TDP membership, now numbering over one crore. The party cadre and leaders are impressed with his “Red Book” initiative, fuelling speculation about his future role in the party and government. Meanwhile, Jana Sena aspirations are focused on Kalyan becoming the chief minister sometime in the future. Balancing these competing interests within the alliance poses a challenge for Naidu. Notably, Kalyan, who played a pivotal role in the election, has reaffirmed his support for Naidu, stating that his priority lies in the state’s development rather than seeking personal posts.
On the other hand, the TDP cadre is already voicing its discontent with the government’s inaction against YSRCP leaders, who allegedly suppressed and attacked TDP leaders and members during their tenure in power. Further, reports of corruption among MLAs pose an additional challenge for Naidu to address. At the moment, Naidu’s political fortunes are on the upswing. He is one of the most important allies in the NDA coalition, which he is leveraging for securing funding for some of his ambitious development projects. If he is able to deliver on them and also manages to secure the state’s finances, Naidu will get a strong hold on the state’s politics for years to come.
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