The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Andhra Pradesh): Nara Chandrababu Naidu has returned to the national political stage after leading his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to a sweeping victory in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. After nearly three decades, Naidu is once again a central figure in national politics.
The TDP secured 16 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh, making it the largest ally of the BJP. This positions Naidu to play a crucial role in forming the NDA government at the Centre, as the BJP failed to secure a majority on its own.
At 74, Naidu, a three-time chief minister, is now the focal point of political discussions. Sources within the TDP reveal that the BJP has offered him the position of convenor of the NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend Naidu’s oath-taking ceremony in Vijayawada on June 9, marking the beginning of Naidu’s fourth term as chief minister.
The incumbent YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, faced a crushing defeat. The TDP-led alliance, including Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party and the BJP, capitalized on public dissatisfaction with the YSRCP’s handling of rural distress, unemployment, financial crises, and vendetta politics. The YSRCP’s tally plummeted to just 9 seats in the 175-member assembly, a stark contrast to their 2019 sweep of 151 seats. The TDP won 137 seats, with Jana Sena Party securing 21 and the BJP 8.
Naidu’s political resurgence brings back memories of the 1990s coalition politics when he played a pivotal role in forming the United Front and NDA governments. In 1996, as the United Front convenor, Naidu united parties not aligned with the Congress or BJP, supporting the H.D. Deve Gowda government with Congress’s external support.
In 1999, the TDP allied with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, supporting the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, despite it falling short of a majority. The TDP was the BJP’s largest ally, even with just 29 seats. In 2014, Naidu’s alliance with the BJP continued until 2018, when he left in protest against the Centre’s refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
Now, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections present another opportunity for Naidu to influence national politics and revive his party, which has faced significant challenges in recent years. The entire nation awaits his next move, which will undoubtedly shape the future political landscape.