N. Chandrababu Naidu

Nara Chandrababu Naidu (Telugu pronunciation: [ˈnɑːrɑː ˈtʃʌnˌdrɑː ˈbɑːbuː ˈnaɪduː]; born 20 April 1950), commonly known as CBN, is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh since 2024. He 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).

In 1978, he was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress party, and from 1980 to 1982, he served as a minister in the state cabinet. Afterwards, he switched party allegiance and joined TDP, which had been founded by his father-in-law N. T. Rama Rao. Naidu served as a TDP Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 1989 to 1995. In 1995, he became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

During his two previous terms as Chief Minister, Naidu's public image was that of a visionary economic reformer and proponent of information technology–driven economic growth. His policies brought modernisation and significant investments, particularly in Hyderabad, where he directed the founding of HITEC City, Genome Valley, HITEX Exhibition and the Financial District. He also established the Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS), which was inaugurated during his tenure to improve urban mobility. Additionally, he initiated major infrastructure projects such as the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road and laid the groundwork for the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. He also had a role in national politics, first as the convener of the United Front in 1996. He supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, in which TDP won 29 seats, enhancing Naidu's reputation as a nationally prominent politician. In 2014, Naidu returned as Chief Minister, winning in the now-residuary (due to bifurcation) Andhra Pradesh.

In the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Naidu's party faced an electoral setback, with TDP winning only 23 out of 175 seats. In September 2023, Naidu was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) police in Andhra Pradesh due to alleged involvement in the skills development case and was granted bail by Andhra Pradesh High Court in November 2023. In a significant legal development in February 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cleared Naidu of all charges in the skill development case. In the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the TDP returned to power once again in a landslide toppling the incumbent YSRCP government and Naidu became Chief Minister for the fourth time.

Early life and education

Naidu was born on 20 April 1950 in a Telugu agrarian family to Nara Kharjura Naidu and his mother Amanamma in Naravaripalle, Tirupati district, in present-day Andhra Pradesh. He has a younger brother Nara Ramamurthy Naidu and two younger sisters. Naidu has vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that causes white patches on the skin.

Since his village had no school, Naidu attended primary school in Seshapuram up to class five and the Chandragiri Government High School up to class 10. He completed his B.A. degree in 1972 from Sri Venkateswara Arts College, Tirupati. Later, he got his master's degree in economics from Sri Venkateswara University. In 1974, under the guidance of professor Dr. D. L. Narayana he started work on his Ph.D. on the topic of Economic ideas of Professor N. G. Ranga, but did not complete his Ph.D.

Earlier Political career

Indian National Congress

Naidu started his political activities as a student union leader in Sri Venkateswara University while pursuing his master's degree. In 1975, he joined Indian Youth Congress and became the president of its local chapter in Pulicherla. After the emergency was imposed on the country in 1975, he became a supporter of Sanjay Gandhi.

With the help of N. G. Ranga, Naidu secured a candidacy from the Congress party, under its 20% quota for the youth, and became a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chandragiri constituency in the 1978 assembly elections. He initially served as a director of Andhra Pradesh Small Scale Industries Development Corporation. Later, he was appointed as a minister in T. Anjaiah's government. Between 1980 and 1983, Naidu held various portfolios, including archives, cinematography, technical education, and minor irrigation in the state government. He became the youngest MLA at the age of 28 and a minister at the age of 30 in Andhra Pradesh 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, formed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and swept the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls held in 1983. Chandrababu Naidu, who was his son-in-law, remained in the Congress Party. However, he was defeated by a TDP candidate in the elections from Chandragiri assembly constituency. Soon after, he joined the Telugu Desam Party. Initially, Naidu involved himself in the party work, organising training camps and computerising membership records. He played an active role during the 1984 August crisis in the government triggered by Nadendla Bhaskara Rao's coup. NTR appointed Naidu as general secretary of the TDP in 1986.

Legislative career (1989–1994)

In the 1989 assembly election, Naidu contested from Kuppam constituency as a TDP candidate and won by 5,000 votes. INC, however, was elected to power, so Naidu was in the opposition. Rama Rao appointed him as a coordinator of the TDP, in which capacity he handled the party's role of the main opposition in the assembly which won him wide appreciation from both the party and the public. His role during this phase, both inside the Legislative Assembly and outside, is seen as a critical factor for the subsequent success of the party.

Naidu won the 1994 elections from Kuppam constituency. He became the Finance and Revenue Minister in N. T. Rama Rao's ministry.

First term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, 1995

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 and has hence served as the leader of the party.

Second term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, 1999

In the 1999 state legislature elections, Chandrababu Naidu led his party to victory, securing 180 out of 294 seats in the state assembly. Additionally, the TDP won 29 out of 42 seats in the Parliament elections. The TDP's tally in the Lok Sabha made it not only the biggest of the BJP's allies, but also the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha. These elections marked a critical juncture for Naidu, as they served as a significant test of his legitimacy both as the Chief Minister of the state and as the President of the TDP. Upon his return to power, the media hailed him as the first economic reformer to secure a strong electoral mandate.

Assassination attempt

On 1 October 2003, Naidu survived a land mine blast by the People's War Group (PWG) near Alipiri tollgate in Tirupati. The Chief Minister's convoy was attacked on his way to Tirumala to participate in the annual ritual of Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara atop the seven hills. A total of 17 Claymore mines were planted, of which 9 exploded. Naidu was the first Chief Minister in the country to have been targeted by the ultra-left-wing Naxalites for assassination. Naidu's escape with minor injuries was considered miraculous given the severity of the blast. The PWG claimed it attacked him for being a "World Bank agent."

Role in National Politics

Chandrababu Naidu's involvement in national politics during the period of 1996 to 2004 was dominated by non-Congress coalition politics in Delhi. In the aftermath of the 1996 parliamentary elections, he assumed the role of convenor for the United Front, a coalition comprising 13 political parties that secured power at the Centre. The coalition government was headed by H.D. Deve Gowda and later I.K. Gujral between 1996 and 1998. The United Front had its headquarters at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi.