Chandrababu Naidu returns to become key player in Andhra Pradesh
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New Delhi: Chandrababu Naidu has emerged invincible after humiliating setbacks that his party suffered in the last elections.
The veteran leader has turned around Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leading in 16 Lok Sabha and 130 assembly seats.
The victory has placed him as the force behind his party’s resurgence as well as becoming a key player in national politics if the NDA plunges further in number of seats.
The victory comes as Naidu was reeling from the impact of resounding victory of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) in the 2019 state elections.
Back then, YSRCP led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gained a resounding victory, winning 151 out of 175 seats.
TDP managed to pull off only 23 seats just as the YSRCP swept districts, including Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, and Vizianagaram.
His failure stemmed from leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in order to join the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
The huge defeat isolated Naidu politically and there appeared little political prospects before him.
His arrest in November 2023 on corruption charges perhaps stirred up sympathy, coupled with allegations of misgovernance and corruption against YSRCP administration, according to the report.
Ahead of polls, Naidu rejoined the NDA in an astute move that worked wonders for him in the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jagan Reddy is ahead in Pulivendula by 21,292 votes over his TDP rival B Ravi.