Hyderabad: Suffering electoral reverses and constant battering from the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Telugu Desam Party chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the 2024 assembly elections will be his “last” if he is not voted to power in the state.
Speaking at a roadshow Wednesday in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, the Leader of the Opposition told the people that if they want him to go back to the Assembly, continue in politics and work for the state’s welfare, he has to come to power. Otherwise, he said, the upcoming election could be his last.
“I am a senior leader, and no one ever dared to insult me in my 40 years (of politics). But I have been insulted. They’ve also targeted my wife. It has come to such a situation. I made a decision that day that it (assembly) is not a ‘gaurava sabha’ (respectful gathering),’ but a ‘Kaurava Sabha (of the Mahabharat).’ And I decided that I will win from the ground level and make the assembly a ‘gaurava sabha,’ and only then enter it. Else I had clarified that day that I won’t enter,” Naidu said on Wednesday night.
“I am asking you something, if you want me to go back to the assembly, if I have to continue in politics and do justice to the state, you have to help me win and get to power. Else I want to tell you that this will be the last election,” he added.
In 2021, Naidu walked out of the assembly and vowed to not enter until he is back in power in the state. His walkout was in reaction to alleged insults and personal insinuations made against his wife by members of the ruling YSRCP. Moments later, he addressed a press gathering and wept inconsolably saying his wife’s character was tarnished.
Naidu, who was chief minister of both the undivided Andhra Pradesh and after its bifurcation for a combined period of 14 years, has not had any electoral successes in recent times. The TDP chief has also faced setback due to poaching of its leaders by the ruling YSRCP.
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‘I am physically fit’
At the roadshow, Naidu claimed how his rivals ridiculed him as an ageing leader and added that he is physically very fit.
“A few of them had ridiculed me on how I am ageing. There are a lot of them who are older than me. Narendra Modi is of the same age, America’s President (Joe Biden) is 79. I am physically fit and I do not have any bad habits like you (his critics). I will make sure I will get the state back on track and hand over the future to someone else but will not leave it like this. Which is why I am asking you, will you bless me?” he told the crowds.
Naidu, in an exclusive interview to ThePrint in May, pointed out how his age is not a factor and what matters is the performance.
Reacting to Naidu’s speech, YSRCP leader Vijayasai Reddy questioned what Naidu had achieved in his tenure as a chief minister. “You’re now begging for a last chance from people. You’ve ruined the state for over three decades, with your caste obsession. You cannot become CM again,” the Rajya Sabha MP tweeted on Thursday.
In the 2019 Assembly polls, TDP suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSRCP. Following the victory, Reddy took over as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for the first time. Assembly polls are due in the state in 2024.
(Edited by V. S. Chandrasekar)
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