After record tenure as CM, LoP, Naidu now a completely changed politician
Naidu’s current term is marked by a focus on work and less publicity compared to his previous stint
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in his chambers at Amaravati
Focus on work
♦ AP govt aims to achieve a $2 trn economy and become a leader in industrial development
♦ Naidu has adopted a more focused and efficient approach to governance, including reducing unnecessary publicity and meetings
♦ The govt is implementing a system to assess the performance of ministers, MLAs, and MPs
Vijayawada: With rich experience in the hot seat, a record 14 years as the Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the undivided Andhra Pradesh for 10 years and post-bifurcation for five years, 74-year-old N Chandrababu Naidu is a changed person in his current stint as the Chief Minister from June 12, 2024.
Having earned the distinction as the longest serving Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, nine years in the united State, Naidu fondly called CBN with the reputation in the corporate world as the CEO of Andhra Pradesh Inc with his tech-savvy approach, is now focusing on work with less publicity unlike his previous stint during 2014-19.
Having learnt lessons in the coalition politics and experiencing humiliation during the tenure of YSRCP for past five years with several cases slapped against him and his imprisonment for nearly two months in Rajahmundry Central Jail for his alleged involvement in Skill Development Corporation corruption case, Naidu now is understood to have decided to improve the delivery mechanism. He is keen to maintain good rapport with the Central leadership, implement the Super Six promises made in the elections in a time-bound manner and improve the finances.
The recent white paper released by the TDP-led NDA government in the Assembly on the State finances put the debt and liabilities as on June 12, 2024 at Rs 9.74 lakh crore. The liabilities due to court orders, which need to be paid immediately stood at Rs 3,542 crore.
The liabilities would be much more if the loans were taken by various corporations including AP State Beverages Development Corporation by pledging revenue from liquor, said TDP politburo member and former Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.
After taking charge as the Chief Minister on June 12, Naidu undertook a whirlwind tour of the State to understand the ground situation on implementation of Bhogapuram Airport, status of capital construction at Amaravati and Polavaram project. Now he has decided to launch Janma Bhoomi-2 in the New Year and release Vikasit AP Vision on October 2 targeting a $2 trillion economy with the highest happiness index and to put AP in the driver’s seat of industrial development in the country.
A glaring instance of change in him, unlike his style of functioning as the Chief Minister in the previous stint, is to speak less, adhere to meetings’ time schedule and not to hold late evening review meetings. Naidu at recent meetings also directed the officials to shun publicity blitzkrieg for his meetings, not to close schools to parade students to greet him during his official trips. He also wanted the meetings to be made a low-key event.
