Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party, rejoined the Andhra Pradesh legislature today, thirty-one months after he had left due to a perceived “insult to his family.” In November 2021, Mr. Naidu vowed to return only after becoming the Chief Minister, a feat he accomplished following his party’s landslide victory in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. The TDP won 135 seats in the 175-member assembly, with their allies Jana Sena and BJP securing 21 and 8 seats, respectively.
Visuals today showed the entire house standing up to warmly welcome Mr. Naidu as he entered as Chief Minister for his fourth term.
On November 19, 2021, Chandrababu Naidu left the assembly following alleged abusive comments by members of the then-ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) directed towards his wife. Emotionally moved, he exited the assembly with folded hands during a discussion on women’s empowerment.
Chandrababu Naidu
“I will not participate in this assembly anymore. I will return only as the chief minister,” Mr. Naidu declared, likening the assembly to a ‘Kaurava Sabha’, referencing the hall from the Mahabharata where Draupadi was humiliated.
In the 2019 state elections, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the YSRCP achieved a decisive victory, securing 151 out of 175 seats. The YSRCP dominated key districts such as Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, and Vizianagaram. Only 23 seats were won by the TDP, which is currently in power.
Mr. Naidu’s decision to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and join the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections proved costly for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The party faced setbacks in both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, leading to Mr. Naidu’s political marginalization.
A defeat in the 2024 elections could have potentially ended Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu’s 50-year political career. However, known for his political acumen, Mr. Naidu orchestrated a remarkable comeback by allying once again with the BJP, despite facing initial coldness.
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His strategy paid off handsomely, with significant victories in both assembly and Lok Sabha polls. This resurgence saw him reclaim the Chief Minister’s position and establish himself as a crucial figure within the NDA alliance, which secured a historic third consecutive term at the Centre.