Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu took oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth term on June 12 at a ceremony that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers.
The regional satrap served as the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004 for two terms and was also the first Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2019.
Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh and Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Konidela Pawan Kalyan were among 24 MLAs who were also administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor S Abdul Nazeer at the ceremony at Kesarapalli. The JSP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are allies of the TDP as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
“Took oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at the swearing-in ceremony in Amaravati today. I devote myself to serving the people of my state. Thank you Andhra Pradesh!” Naidu said in a post on X as he thanked PM Modi for his "august presence" at the swearing-in ceremony.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Naidu conducted a meeting with the ministers at his residence. The seasoned politician battled many challenges in the last five years. The biggest challenge came in September last year when he was arrested for alleged irregularities in Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation during his previous term as the Chief Minister (2014-19).
For the first time in his 45-year-long political career, he was sent to jail in a corruption case. Months later, he scripted an unprecedented victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. TDP alone won 135 seats, while Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena secured 21 seats, and the BJP won eight. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, managed only 11 seats.
Naidu not only decimated YSRCP to return to power but also emerged as a kingmaker at the Centre after a gap of more than two decades. With 16 MPs, TDP emerged as the second biggest party in the NDA after the BJP, and its support became crucial for the Modi government 3.0.
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After taking over the office of CM, Naidu is likely to sign five files, including the Mega District Selection Committee (DSC) notification, abrogating the Land Titling Act brought in by the previous government, increasing social security pensions, conducting a skill census in Andhra Pradesh to ensure employment opportunities for the youth, and the re-establishment of the Anna Canteens (subsidized food canteen), according to the sources.
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