Nara Chandrababu Naidu is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 12 June. His Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Janasena alliance triumphed in the recent elections, securing 164 seats in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
This victory not only reaffirms Naidu's influence in the state but also enhances his stature at the national level, as the TDP emerges as the second-largest party in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
On Tuesday, Naidu met with Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer to formally stake his claim to form the next government. "All MLAs of the BJP, Janasena, and TDP have given their consent for me to become Andhra Pradesh's upcoming Chief Minister of the NDA government," Naidu announced following a meeting with NDA legislators.
Naidu's return to power is particularly dramatic, considering his two-month imprisonment last year over alleged corruption charges related to the diversion of funds intended for a youth training programme.
Swearing-In Ceremony Details
N Chandrababu Naidu's swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 11:27 AM on 12 June. The event will take place at the Kesarapalli IT Park, near Gannavaram Airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada. The ceremony is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent NDA leaders.
"JP Nadda ji and Amit Shah ji are coming here today. Soon after landing, they will head to the residence of Chandrababu Naidu, where discussions on numbers and portfolios will be decided by them," said Andhra Pradesh BJP president D Purandeswari.
In the newly-elected Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Naidu's TDP holds the largest number of seats with 135 MLAs. The JanaSena Party, led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, secured 21 seats, while the BJP has 8 legislators.
Naidu's comeback is seen as a significant shift in Andhra Pradesh politics, positioning him and his coalition as a formidable force both within the state and on the national stage.
