Nara Chandrababu Naidu (born 20 April 1950), commonly known as CBN, is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the 13th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and holds the record of longest-serving Chief Minister in the political history of Telugu states. He is the national president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

CBN is known for his efforts to transform Hyderabad into an IT hub, earning him the nickname “IT Minister”.

He implemented various reforms and initiatives to promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare.

He has been a key figure in Indian politics, known for his strategic thinking and leadership.

He has received several awards and recognition for his contributions to politics, governance, and IT development.

POLITICAL LIFE:

Joined the Indian National Congress in 1970s.

Became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1995, serving until 2004.

Founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982.

Served as the Chief Minister again from 2014 to 2019.

Indian National Congress:

Naidu began his political career as a student union leader at Sri Venkateswara University while pursuing his master’s degree. In 1975, he joined the Indian Youth Congress and was elected president of its local chapter in Pulicherla. Following the imposition of emergency rule in 1975, he became a supporter of Sanjay Gandhi.

With the assistance of N. G. Ranga, Naidu secured a nomination from the Congress party under its 20% youth quota and was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chandragiri constituency in the 1978 elections. He first served as a director of the Andhra Pradesh Small Scale Industries Development Corporation before being appointed as a minister in T. Anjaiah’s government. Between 1980 and 1983, Naidu held several portfolios, including archives, cinematography, technical education, and minor irrigation. At 28, he became the youngest MLA in Andhra Pradesh, and at 30, he became the youngest minister in the state’s history at that time.As the cinematography minister, Naidu came in contact with N. T. Rama Rao, a popular film star in Telugu cinema. In September 1981, he married Bhuvaneswari, Rao’s second daughter.

Telugu Desam Party:

In 1982, N. T. Rama Rao, also known as NTR, founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which achieved a sweeping victory in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections of 1983. Chandrababu Naidu, NTR’s son-in-law, stayed with the Congress Party and even contested against his father-in-law. Naidu was defeated by a TDP candidate in the Chandragiri assembly constituency. Shortly after, he joined the Telugu Desam Party.

Naidu initially focused on party activities, organizing training camps and computerizing membership records. He played a significant role during the August 1984 crisis in the government, which was triggered by NadendlaBhaskaraRao’s coup. In 1986, NTR appointed Naidu as the general secretary of the TDP.

REWARDS AND AWARDS:

Naidu has received numerous accolades, including the IT Indian of the Millennium award, Business Person of the Year, South Asian of the Year, and the Golden Peacock Award for Leadership in Public Service & Economic Transformation. He was also named to the World Economic Forum’s Dream Cabinet.

He chaired the National IT Panel under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and was hailed by Profit, Oracle Corporation’s monthly magazine, as one of the “hidden seven” working wonders of the world. In 2000, Naidu was offered an honorary professorship by the Kellogg School of Management in the U.S. He served as Chairman of the National Task Force on Micro-irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture in 2003 and led a 13-member Committee of Chief Ministers established by the federal government in 2016 to advance digital payment systems and financial inclusion in India.

• IT Indian of the Millennium: Voted by India Today and 20:20 Media.
• South Asian of the Year (1999): Named by Time magazine, US.
• Seven Working Wonders Around the World (2001): Described by Profit magazine, published by Oracle Corporation, US.
• Business Person of the Year: Awarded by Economic Times.
• Golden Peacock Award for Leadership in Public Service & Economic Transformation (2017).
• Global Agriculture Policy Leadership Award: Given by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA).
• Aadarsh Mukhyamantri Puraskar (Model CM Award): Honored by Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad and MIT School of Governance on January 30, 2016.
• Transformative Chief Minister Award (May 2017): Presented by US-India Business Council (USIBC) at the West Coast Summit in Silicon Valley.

POLITICAL CAREER:

First term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1995–1999)

On 1 September 1995, Naidu, at the age of 45, was sworn in as the Chief Minister following a successful coup against the leadership of N.T. Rama Rao.  The internal rebellion was triggered by the controversial role of Lakshmi Parvathi, NTR’s second wife, in the party and the government. Naidu was able to secure the support of the majority of the legislators.  Naidu however, already in the saddle, firmly entrenched himself as the leader of the TDP and as Chief Minister. Naidu has carried TDP as NTR legacy and helped it to survive.

Second term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1999–2004)

In the 1999 state legislature elections, Chandrababu Naidu led his party, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), to a decisive victory, winning 180 out of 294 seats in the state assembly. In the Parliament elections, the TDP secured 29 out of 42 seats, becoming not only the largest ally of the BJP but also the fourth-largest party in the LokSabha. These elections were a pivotal moment for Naidu, as they tested his legitimacy both as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and as TDP President. Upon regaining power, the media acclaimed him as the first economic reformer to achieve a strong electoral mandate.

Third term as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2014–2019)

After the bifurcation, elections were held in 2014 in the newly formed states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Naidu formed an alliance again with the BJP and Jana Sena Party and returned to power in the bifurcated, residual Andhra Pradesh state, winning 102 seats out of 175 seats. The TDP also won 16 LokSabha seats. Naidu took oath as the first Chief Minister of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh at Mangalagiri on the grounds of AcharyaNagarjuna University near Guntur. His party joined the NDA government at the centre and held two portfolios in the union cabinet. Two cabinet berths in the state were allocated to the BJP.

The Chief Minister faced a host of challenges in the new state. The newly born state of Andhra Pradesh was left without a capital city and was deprived of a major economic hub. Naidu took up the construction of a new capital city, named Amaravati, on the southern side of river Krishna near Vijayawada. During Naidu’s term, the state achieved top ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Business rankings in the country since 2015. The state attracted mega companies like Kia Motors, Isuzu Motors, Pepsi, Mondelez and Foxconn.

Fourth term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2024–present)

In June 2022, PawanKalyan suggested a potential alliance between his Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the 2024 elections. There was also speculation that Naidu was working to rebuild his relationship with the BJP.

On June 12, 2024, Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for a record fourth term, surpassing N. T. Rama Rao‘s three terms. This achievement followed a decisive victory in the 2024 state legislative assembly elections, where the TDP, in alliance with the BJP and JSP, won 164 out of 175 seats, defeating the YSR Congress Party led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. PawanKalyan was sworn in as Naidu’s deputy.

Leader of the Opposition (2004–2014)

Following an assassination attempt on him, Naidu dissolved the state assembly, leading to elections in April 2004, which were held concurrently with the parliamentary polls. The TDP faced significant anti-incumbency issues, exacerbated by high power tariffs and insufficient support for the agricultural sector. Additionally, the newly formed Congress–TRS alliance in Telangana presented a substantial challenge to the TDP’s popularity. In these elections, the TDP was defeated both in the state assembly and in the LokSabha. The Congress Party won 185 seats in the assembly, while the TDP secured only 47 seats, marking its lowest tally in electoral history. In Parliament, the TDP won just 5 out of 42 seats. Naidu attributed the ‘shock’ defeat to the severe drought that had impacted Andhra Pradesh the previous year and the timing of the elections.