New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu heaped praise on his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Referring to Modi as a “global leader” and his “inspiration”, Naidu stated that they come from the “same school of thought”. He expressed gratitude to Modi for “teaching” him so much and inaugurating projects worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore.
Naidu reiterated that this magnanimity demonstrated the NDA government’s potential to continue with great success in the future, not just in the state but at the national level too.
He made these statements at a massive public meeting in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (January 8). The event was preceded by a short roadshow, marking the first such appearance by the prime minister since being elected for a third term – a point Modi himself highlighted during his speech, emphasising Andhra Pradesh as his priority.
Both Modi and K. Pawan Kalyan, who is president of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) as well as deputy chief minister, NDA partner and a film star, were the star attractions of the roadshow.
Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for several projects in Andhra Pradesh worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore. Key initiatives included the NTPC Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Pudimadaka (Rs 1.85 lakh crore investment), various railway and road projects such as the South Coast Railway Headquarters at Visakhapatnam (Rs 19,500 crore), a Bulk Drug Park at Nakkapalli and the Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KRIS City), which is expected to attract Rs 10,500 crore in manufacturing investments.
These projects aim to bolster renewable energy production, improve transportation infrastructure, enhance healthcare access and create significant employment opportunities in the region.
Modi refrained from mentioning Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the opposition leader and former chief minister. This silence is notable, given that both Naidu and Kalyan have consistently blamed the previous Jagan-led government for the state’s issues, despite their being in power for over six months now.
Modi’s omission suggests a strategic choice, possibly aimed at maintaining cordial ties with Jagan, whose MPs previously supported the NDA government in passing key legislations while keeping the TDP insecure.
Overall, the BJP and Modi emerged as the cynosure of this public meeting, a demonstration of the NDA government’s strength in Andhra Pradesh. Photo: X/@narendramodi.
The prime minister also avoided addressing the privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant – a deeply emotive issue for the people of Visakhapatnam and the state of Andhra Pradesh as a whole. Similarly, he made no mention of the promised special category status for the state, a key post-bifurcation promise and another highly sensitive subject.
Meanwhile, Naidu ironically praised Modi as the only leader who “raised his voice for the justice of Andhra Pradesh” following the state’s bifurcation in 2014.
It is worth noting that Naidu had previously broken away from the NDA in early 2019, accusing Modi of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by failing to deliver on even a “special package”, a diluted version of the special category status negotiated midway through their tenure. The fallout was marked by sharp exchanges, with BJP leader Amit Shah calling Naidu “the most corrupt politician in the history of India” and declaring that the doors of the NDA were “permanently closed” to him.
Naidu, on his part, observed a “black day”, staged a dharna in New Delhi, joined the UPA alliance and resurrected criticism of Modi’s “genocidal” past during the 2002 Gujarat riots in the lead-up to the 2019 elections.
Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative has shifted. Naidu now credits Modi with delivering on many of his earlier promises and more. Listing a range of initiatives, Naidu thanked Modi for sanctioning IITs, IIMs, NITs, tribal universities, the Special South Coast Railway Zone, loans for the new capital Amaravati and full responsibility for completing the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.
Naidu went on to heap further praise, stating that after Manmohan Singh’s economic reforms, Modi is the leader who can take India to a “number one or number two position” globally – though he did not specify in which area.
In a dramatic moment, Naidu urged the crowd to raise their hands in gratitude to Modi, a call met with chants of “Modi! Modi!” from the enthusiastic audience. He also stressed that only a “double-engine sarkar” could achieve double-digit growth.
While highlighting Modi’s focus on poverty alleviation, Naidu notably sidestepped the issue of growing economic inequalities.
Naidu attributed the NDA’s recent electoral successes, such as sweeping victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, to Modi’s “charisma”. He predicted that the same charisma would secure a massive victory for the BJP in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.
Meanwhile, questions arise about how long Naidu will tolerate Hindutva push for
Overall, the BJP and Modi emerged as the cynosure of this public meeting, a demonstration of the alliance government’s strength in Andhra Pradesh. This event closely followed the ‘Hindu Sankharavam’ campaign launched by the VHP in Kesarapalli village, Vijayawada, on January 5, which called for, among other things, the removal of state control over Hindu temples.
However, there is a broader context to the VHP’s decision to launch its nationwide campaign from Andhra Pradesh. The BJP has been working to expand its influence beyond the Vindhyas, a strategy that included allying with the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) during the latter’s tenure in Tamil Nadu to strengthen its base in the state.
The BJP has seen some rewards from these efforts, as demonstrated by its performance in the 2024 general elections in Tamil Nadu, where it garnered approximately 11% of the vote share. With BJP leader Annamalai gaining traction, the party now appears to be positioning itself as the main opposition to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, while the AIADMK’s presence has significantly diminished.
Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA has achieved notable success, securing a significant victory and appointing Pawan Kalyan, its Hindutva ally and representative in the south, as deputy chief minister – a first in the state’s history.
Pawan Kalyan has been instrumental in advancing a Hindu consolidation (cultivating a Hindu vote) agenda, evident in his amplification of the Tirupati laddu controversy, his 11-day penance in saffron robes at Tirumala and his declared “Sanatani” credentials. He even campaigned for the NDA in regions of Maharashtra with significant Telugu-speaking populations, such as Osmanabad, Aurangabad and Solapur. The recent VHP campaign echoes Kalyan’s earlier “Varahi Declaration” from September.
This aggressive Hindutva push has raised questions among political observers and analysts about how long Naidu might tolerate such developments before taking a stand.
These concerns were reflected in a strong response from Vemuri Radhakrishna, owner of ABN Andhra Jyothi, a prominent media and newspaper organisation widely regarded as supportive of Naidu, along with Eenadu media. More specifically, Radhakrishna has been a staunch supporter of the TDP, which has historically been the vanguard of the class interests of the influential Kamma community.
In his New Year weekend column, Radhakrishna expressed apprehension about the rising prominence of Pawan Kalyan, driven by the BJP’s Hindutva agenda in Andhra Pradesh. He also raised questions about the future role of Nara Lokesh, Naidu’s son, amidst these political shifts, particularly as Naidu approaches his octogenarian years. Radhakrishna’s column appeared to be a direct, anticipated response to the VHP meeting in Vijayawada.
These developments come against the backdrop of the BJP’s recalibrated strategy following its underwhelming performance in the 2024 general elections, where it secured only 240 seats despite claims of winning over 400. The BJP is now focusing on aggressively expanding its base in the south, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a ‘laboratory’ state alongside Telangana, where the party has already made notable gains in recent years.
