A historic mandate and an unenviable task for the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh

A historic mandate and an unenviable task for the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh. After decimating the YSRCP and romping home with a thumping majority, the TDP-led alliance government has the onerous challenge of putting the State back on track and delivering on its promises, while striking a balance between welfare and development.

The year 2024 was historic in may ways for Andhra Pradesh, but the political fallouts stand out above all.

The State witnessed the General and Assembly elections. Contrary to expectations, the State saw a political change of guard.

Proving wrong the political pundits’ prediction that it would be a tough battle between the TDP-led NDA and the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP won 135 out of the total 144 seats it contested. The NDA parties together secured 164 out of the total 175 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with K. Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP) winning 21 and BJP securing 8.

Mr. Naidu was back again as the Chief Minister for the fourth time, decimating Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP and confining it to 11 seats. Though the YSRCP fielded its candidates in all the 175 seats, it could win in only 11, and did not qualify itself for the Opposition status in the Legislative Assembly as it fell short by seven seats.

It was a dismal performance by the YSRCP. In 2019, it won 151 Assembly seats, reducing the TDP to 23. While the JSP was confined to one seat, the BJP drew a blank.

In their post-poll analyses, the political experts highlighted the blunders committed by Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, which led to his party’s defeat. But one thing that brought Mr. Naidu back as the ‘CEO of A.P.’ was that he warmed towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and forged an alliance with the BJP and JSP.

Though he walked out of the NDA in 2018, incurring the BJP’s ire, Mr. Naidu made the right move to join it again. This was made possible by Mr. Pawan Kalyan, who strived to forge the alliance to ensure that the Opposition vote did not split.