Chandrababu Naidu’s remarkable comeback to become CM for fourth time

Amaravati, June 12 (IANS) It was an emotional moment for Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu as he took oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh here on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and thousands of people.The 74-year-old became Chief Minister for the fourth time but this was something he would always cherish.He was so hurt over the humiliation he faced in the state Assembly in November 2021 that he had vowed to return only after winning the election and becoming the Chief Minister.Alleging that the MLAs of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) humiliated him by making personal remarks about his wife Bhuvaneswari, Naidu broke down at a news conference on November 19, 2021.Leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a landslide victory in the recent polls, he fulfilled his pledge.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, Naidu was sent to jail in a corruption case.While he was in judicial custody, CID booked more cases as the YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was seen to be allegedly vindictive.After spending 52 days in Rajahmundry Jail, he stepped out on bail on October 31.“In my entire political career, I neither did wrong nor did I allow anyone to do anything wrong,” he declared.Seven months later, he scripted an unprecedented victory in alliance with the Jana Sena and the BJP.Naidu not only virtually decimated YSRCP to return to power but also emerged 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.With the cash-strapped state desperately in need of the Centre’s help to rebuild itself and develop its state capital, Naidu remained loyal to the NDA despite the INDIA bloc’s attempts to woo him.With his political career at a pinnacle, and with Naidu being keen to anoint his son Nara Lokesh as his political successor, the TDP chief preferred to have a strong bonding with the NDA.This was reflected in Naidu inviting PM Modi and his ministers to the swearing-in.Naidu knows that the Centre’s support is important for him to complete his unfinished dream project of building Amaravati as the state capital and to put the state economy back on the rails.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.Tech-savvy Naidu, who also came to be called as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for his pro-business approach, served as Chief Minister for 14 years.In between his terms as CM, he was also the Leader of Opposition for 15 years.Hailing from Naravaripalli in Chittoor District of Rayalaseema region, Naidu started his political career from his student years in Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, where he did MA in Economics.He began his political career with the Congress party.In 1978, he became MLA at the age of 28. He was elected from Chandragiri constituency in Chittoor District and became a Minister at the age of 30.He served as the Minister for Cinematography, Technical Education, Irrigation and Archives during T. Anjaiah’s government between 1980 and 1983.In 1981, he married Bhuvaneswari, daughter of then Telugu superstar NT Rama Rao, who founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 and ended the virtual monopoly of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh