VJM Divakar 

In the ever-changing, unexpected often unpredictable phases of Indian politics, where names flicker and fade like lanterns in a gale, one name stands resolute, a lighthouse of credibility and vision—Nara Chandrababu Naidu. From the dusty lanes of a small village in Chittoor, he rose not merely to lead Andhra Pradesh but to etch his name among the world’s statesmen.

His is a saga not of chance but of relentless pursuit, a journey where the heart of a common man fused with the mind of a global thinker. And behind this towering figure stand the unyielding pillars of his family—his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, his son, Nara Lokesh, and his daughter-in-law, N. Brahmani—each a quiet force in his extraordinary tale.

When Naidu first donned the mantle of Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, the state was a cauldron of chaos, simmering with unrest. Yet, like a maestro commanding a discordant orchestra, he brought harmony. In a matter of a few months, he tamed the turbulence, steering the state toward progress with a clarity that dazzled all.

Hyderabad, once a sleepy city, awoke as "Cyberabad," its skyline pierced by the iconic HITEC City, a testament to Naidu’s foresight in embracing the digital dawn. The pharmaceutical sector bloomed under his touch, and roads, bridges, and dreams of a connected Andhra stretched across the horizon. At the national stage, he was no mere bystander; he was a kingmaker, his counsel shaping the destinies of Prime Ministers in the National Front and United Front eras.

Yet, the path of a visionary is never smooth. Time and again, Naidu faced tempests that would have broken lesser men. When the late Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, then Chief Minister, unleashed a barrage of political vendetta, Naidu stood unbowed, a lion amidst jackals, championing the people as Leader of the Opposition. When Andhra Pradesh was cleaved in two, leaving a wounded, truncated state, he bore the weight of its grief and rebuilt its future.

And when the dark shadow of YS Jagan’s regime fell upon him, hounding his family and imprisoning him on flimsy pretexts, Naidu’s spirit remained unbroken. In those bleak days, it was Bhuvaneswari who stepped into the fray, a warrior in her own right, defending her husband and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with a courage that stirred the soul of Andhra. Lokesh, the young heir, and Brahmani, his steadfast partner, rallied the TDP cadre, their resolve a spark that ignited hope across the state.

 The people of Andhra Pradesh, ever watchful, saw this saga unfold. In the elections that followed, they spoke with a thunderous mandate, sweeping Naidu and the TDP-led NDA to a landslide victory. By his side stood his trusted ally, JSP Chief Pawan Kalyan, a comrade in the battle for justice. Together, they reclaimed Andhra’s dreams from the ashes of tyranny.

What sets Chandrababu Naidu apart is not merely his triumphs but the heart with which he pursues them. While other leaders cling to parochial fiefdoms, Naidu’s gaze encompasses the state, the nation, and the world beyond. He tracks global tides—political, scientific, technological—with the curiosity of a scholar and the pragmatism of a builder.

Two and a half years ago, in a quiet conversation with this writer, he spoke not of petty politics but of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as tools to transform governance. He envisioned drones weaving a web of welfare, social media as a bridge to citizens, and Andhra’s coastline as a vibrant hub of ports and prosperity. Even then, under the crushing weight of Jagan’s regime, his mind soared, sketching blueprints for an Andhra that could rival the world’s best.

Naidu’s legacy is not confined to the past; it pulses in the present and beckons to the future. As Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra, he dared to dream of Amaravati, a capital city born of sustainable vision. The Polavaram project, a lifeline for millions, inches toward reality under his stewardship. His P4 initiative—Public-Private Partnerships, People, Process, and Performance—redefines governance as a pact with the people. And in his embrace of drones, AI, and coastal development, he charts a course for an Andhra that is not just a state but a symbol of what India can achieve.

On his 75th birthday, we do not merely celebrate a man; we honour a vision. Chandrababu Naidu, with his dictum “Dare to dream, strive to achieve,” reminds us that leadership is not about power but about purpose. In the tapestry of India’s regional leaders, he is a thread of gold, weaving a future where Andhra Pradesh shines as a beacon of progress, prosperity, and hope. To him, we offer our heartfelt wishes, not just for a day, but for a journey that continues to inspire a nation.

nothing short of a fairy tale

His epitaph was written. People said he was finished. But Nara Chandrababu Naidu the visionary colossus rose from the ashes delivering a death blow to his opponents. In a resounding return to power, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has delivered a whirlwind of reforms, infrastructure pushes, welfare initiatives, and long-term policy frameworks—reaffirming his reputation as a visionary administrator determined to rebuild and future-proof Andhra Pradesh.

Since taking office in June 2024, Naidu has steered the state through a sweeping transformation. From relaunching flagship welfare schemes to drawing record-breaking investments and pushing forward the ambitious Swarnandhra Vision 2047, Naidu’s leadership has infused new momentum into governance, economic development, and disaster preparedness.

One of the most defining features of Naidu’s return has been his aggressive push for industrial revival. In January 2025, Andhra Pradesh witnessed the launch of mega industrial projects worth Rs.4.8 lakh crore, including NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Park, Bharat Petroleum’s refinery in Nellore, ArcelorMittal/Nippon Steel’s steel plant, and Reliance’s clean energy initiatives. 

These projects, a product of Naidu’s global investment outreach, are expected to generate over 2.6 lakh jobs. The Chief Minister’s strategic vision and emphasis on ease of doing business have brought Andhra Pradesh back to the forefront of India’s industrial map. “Jobs, innovation, and infrastructure must grow hand-in-hand. That is the Andhra Pradesh we are building,” Naidu declared at the foundation ceremony of one such industrial project.

In a major boost to rural electrification and energy equity, the Naidu government revived and revamped the popular Deepam scheme, now launched as Deepam 2.0. The initiative aims to provide free LPG connections to lakhs of below-poverty-line households, particularly targeting women-led families and remote villages.

Naidu’s return also marked the revival of the Anna Canteens, which were relaunched on August 15, 2024, to provide nutritious meals at Rs.5. The canteens, seen as a symbol of dignity for the urban poor, have quickly expanded across towns and cities in their first phase.

Simultaneously, the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme has been enhanced under his leadership, delivering increased monthly pensions to the elderly, widows, single women, and persons with disabilities—reaffirming the administration’s welfare-first approach. The pension amount has increased to Rs. 4,000, fulfilling electoral promises. Dialysis patients receive Rs. 10,000, while bedridden patients are provided Rs. 15,000 per month.

In a massive public participation exercise, the Naidu government conducted Grama Sabhas across 13,326 panchayats in a single day on August 23, 2024, setting a world record. These Sabhas enabled direct citizen feedback, facilitated work planning worth Rs.4,500 crore under MGNREGS, and strengthened grassroots democracy.

“This government listens, acts, and involves people in every stage of development,” Naidu said, calling the initiative a cornerstone of participatory governance. Fulfilling a long-standing demand from the Rayalaseema region, the Naidu cabinet approved the establishment of a permanent High Court Bench in Kurnool in November 2024. The resolution was passed in the Legislative Assembly, delivering a key promise made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The Chief Minister also expedited long-pending infrastructure projects. The South Coast Railway Zone headquarters is finally taking shape in Visakhapatnam with the allocation of over 52 acres, resolving a key reorganisation commitment.

On the disaster preparedness front, Naidu’s government has led proactive efforts in cyclone-prone districts by setting up modern disaster response units, early warning systems, and robust coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). His hands-on approach during recent heavy rains and cyclones has won praise for effective damage control and speedy rehabilitation.

Perhaps most significantly, Naidu unveiled the Swarnandhra Vision 2047—a comprehensive long-term strategy for economic, environmental, and human development. The plan sets clear targets for GDP growth, clean energy adoption, digital education, healthcare equity, and industrial diversification.

“We are not building for the next election—we are building for the next generation,” Naidu said during the unveiling of the roadmap. In just under a year, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has re-established Andhra Pradesh as a state on the move—leveraging his deep experience, international outlook, and tech-savvy governance style to launch high-impact reforms and rebuild lost momentum.