Politics, like cricket, is full of uncertainties. There could be spells that are dry, yet those who toil when the pitch is rough strike success. This is the saga of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh.
From the margins five years ago, the regional outfit was catapulted to power by the people in the state and in the process the regional party emerged as one to provide a lifeline to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government.
The TDP national president, who completes three decades at the helm of party affairs, is all set to be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. In November 2021, the party chief broke down in the legislative assembly facing an abusive personal attack on his family and promised never to step back for the remainder of the tenure. Then, last October, Naidu was languishing in a Rajahmundry jail on charges of illegalities and graft brought against him by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Now when he returns to the 175-strong assembly, the TDP Chief can take comfort that his political opponent Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his YSR Congress were sent packing by the people. How did Naidu script a comeback in a crucial election?
Losing the 2024 assembly polls would have brought down the curtains on Naidu’s five-decade political journey. The voyage that started from being a District Youth Congress Chief to the pinnacle of political seat in the State and as a ‘king maker’ to many regimes in Delhi. Incidentally, Naidu and late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy were fellow-travellers in Youth Congress till the former parted ways to join his father-in-law N T Rama Rao’s TDP.
A wily and seasoned politician, Naidu crafted his image and persona over these decades as a forward-looking, progressive, a reformer and above all one with a vision for the state. These traits transformed the landscape of undivided Andhra Pradesh during his tenure as its Chief Minister during 1995-2004.
The perception brought him back to the office after a decade in 2014 when people of the successor Andhra state reposed trust on him to rebuild it after separation of Telangana in 2014. Yet, Naidu was not quite there in delivering the promised development allowing his opponent Jagan Reddy to capture power five years later.
Reddy junior emulated his late father Rajasekhara Reddy by undertaking a ‘padayatra’ and literally transformed the landscape in his favour. His YSR Congress won an unprecedented 151 seats but this time he was reduced to mere 11 seats while TDP won 135 seats, with allies Jana Sena (21) and BJP (8) taking up the rest.
There are three prongs to the turn-around of political fortunes for the TDP. First was a smart alliance with the Kapu-community backed Jana Sena party of actor Pawan Kalyan. The Jana Sena leader convinced the BJP to come on board allowing the two parties to benefit from the popularity of PM Narendra Modi.
The second factor was the anti-incumbency against YSR Congress chief Jagan Reddy who became unpopular and accused of remaining inaccessible to his own legislators and party workers. Reddy was banking on welfare measures rolled out by his government especially for the women. That the schemes had an impact can be gauged from the fact that the TDP improved upon and offered more.
Third factor is the Super Six promises including monthly pension for the elderly and the differently abled; cash dole to adult women along with free travel on state transport buses; unemployment allowance; creating four lakh jobs every year for the youth; cash assistance for farmers, honorarium for volunteers etc. Interestingly, among others the last scheme was perfected by YSR Congress, whose volunteers ensured last-mile delivery of welfare schemes. These were balanced with development with ₹ 10 lakh investment subsidy for Small and Medium Enterprises and start-ups.
Now armed with a massive mandate in the state and 16 MPs, Naidu and his party will be tested on how the government would work to translate these into reality. Indications are that the TDP Chief is keen to press the pedal on stalled infrastructure projects like the unfinished Amravati as capital and the much-delayed mega Polavaram Dam besides raising revenue to service the ballooning debt and expected expenditure. The road ahead is tougher for the cycle (election symbol of TDP) to negotiate.
—The author, K V Prasad, is an author and political analyst. The views expressed are personal.
Read his previous articles here
From the margins five years ago, the regional outfit was catapulted to power by the people in the state and in the process the regional party emerged as one to provide a lifeline to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government.
The TDP national president, who completes three decades at the helm of party affairs, is all set to be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. In November 2021, the party chief broke down in the legislative assembly facing an abusive personal attack on his family and promised never to step back for the remainder of the tenure. Then, last October, Naidu was languishing in a Rajahmundry jail on charges of illegalities and graft brought against him by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Now when he returns to the 175-strong assembly, the TDP Chief can take comfort that his political opponent Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his YSR Congress were sent packing by the people. How did Naidu script a comeback in a crucial election?
Losing the 2024 assembly polls would have brought down the curtains on Naidu’s five-decade political journey. The voyage that started from being a District Youth Congress Chief to the pinnacle of political seat in the State and as a ‘king maker’ to many regimes in Delhi. Incidentally, Naidu and late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy were fellow-travellers in Youth Congress till the former parted ways to join his father-in-law N T Rama Rao’s TDP.
A wily and seasoned politician, Naidu crafted his image and persona over these decades as a forward-looking, progressive, a reformer and above all one with a vision for the state. These traits transformed the landscape of undivided Andhra Pradesh during his tenure as its Chief Minister during 1995-2004.
The perception brought him back to the office after a decade in 2014 when people of the successor Andhra state reposed trust on him to rebuild it after separation of Telangana in 2014. Yet, Naidu was not quite there in delivering the promised development allowing his opponent Jagan Reddy to capture power five years later.
Reddy junior emulated his late father Rajasekhara Reddy by undertaking a ‘padayatra’ and literally transformed the landscape in his favour. His YSR Congress won an unprecedented 151 seats but this time he was reduced to mere 11 seats while TDP won 135 seats, with allies Jana Sena (21) and BJP (8) taking up the rest.
Three Prongs to the Turn-Around
JanaSena party President and actor Pawan Kalyan with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu during a Prajagalam Sabha roadshow at Nellimarla ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. (PTI Photo)
There are three prongs to the turn-around of political fortunes for the TDP. First was a smart alliance with the Kapu-community backed Jana Sena party of actor Pawan Kalyan. The Jana Sena leader convinced the BJP to come on board allowing the two parties to benefit from the popularity of PM Narendra Modi.
The second factor was the anti-incumbency against YSR Congress chief Jagan Reddy who became unpopular and accused of remaining inaccessible to his own legislators and party workers. Reddy was banking on welfare measures rolled out by his government especially for the women. That the schemes had an impact can be gauged from the fact that the TDP improved upon and offered more.
Third factor is the Super Six promises including monthly pension for the elderly and the differently abled; cash dole to adult women along with free travel on state transport buses; unemployment allowance; creating four lakh jobs every year for the youth; cash assistance for farmers, honorarium for volunteers etc. Interestingly, among others the last scheme was perfected by YSR Congress, whose volunteers ensured last-mile delivery of welfare schemes. These were balanced with development with ₹ 10 lakh investment subsidy for Small and Medium Enterprises and start-ups.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan were among those who were present at the NDA meeting chaired by PM Modi discussing the government formation at the centre after the 2024 election. The TDP, JD(U), Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the LJP (Ram Vilas) have won 16, 12, seven and five seats respectively and will play a crucial role in the new government. (Image: JP Nadda/X)
Now armed with a massive mandate in the state and 16 MPs, Naidu and his party will be tested on how the government would work to translate these into reality. Indications are that the TDP Chief is keen to press the pedal on stalled infrastructure projects like the unfinished Amravati as capital and the much-delayed mega Polavaram Dam besides raising revenue to service the ballooning debt and expected expenditure. The road ahead is tougher for the cycle (election symbol of TDP) to negotiate.
—The author, K V Prasad, is an author and political analyst. The views expressed are personal.
Read his previous articles here
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