Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu strongly endorsed Narendra Modi at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting in Parliament’s Central Hall on June 7.
Naidu praised Modi for transforming India into a "global powerhouse" and attributed the TDP's win in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections to the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
At the meeting, senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh proposed Modi as the NDA Parliamentary leader, a proposal quickly endorsed by alliance leaders including Naidu. In his speech, Naidu congratulated the NDA on their "wonderful majority" and praised Modi’s relentless campaign efforts. He highlighted the impact of BJP and TDP's joint public meetings and rallies, which significantly contributed to their electoral success.
Naidu specifically mentioned Amit Shah's influence in changing the campaign dynamics and acknowledged the contributions of Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, and BJP national president JP Nadda in boosting public confidence in the Union government’s support for the state.
Naidu lauded Modi's leadership, crediting him for making India the world's fifth-largest economy, as noted in the 2024 World GDP Ranking List. He expressed confidence in Modi's potential to elevate India to the top of the GDP rankings.
However, Naidu also stressed the importance of balancing regional and national interests, ensuring holistic development. He reaffirmed his commitment to providing 4% reservation for Muslims in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Andhra Pradesh, despite Modi’s earlier refusal to grant reservations based on religion.
In a parallel development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also endorsed Modi for a third term as Prime Minister at the NDA meeting.
Kumar, who switched allegiance from the Congress-led INDIA bloc to the BJP, criticized his former allies for their lack of contribution to the country. He confirmed his unwavering support for Modi, dismissing rumors of a potential reunion with the INDIA bloc.
Kumar’s endorsement is crucial, as his Janata Dal (United) and Naidu's TDP hold significant seats that are vital for the BJP to form the government after falling short of the majority mark of 272 seats. The rest of the NDA holds only 25 seats, insufficient to secure a majority without their support.
Kumar’s commitment to the NDA was reiterated by Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, who assured that Kumar would remain with the alliance. Meanwhile, sources indicated that the JDU has conveyed its expectations to the BJP, including demands for ministerial positions and a common minimum program.
Prime Minister Modi, after being nominated as the NDA's leader, took several jabs at the opposition, particularly the Congress, for failing to secure 100 seats in recent Lok Sabha elections. Modi is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister at 6 pm on Sunday.