Naidu set to complete one year in office, faces a balancing act

The Telugu Desam Party-led government in Andhra Pradesh, which completes one year in office next week, has its task cut out to revive the economy of the state without compromising on the implementation of the welfare agenda.

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party-led government in Andhra Pradesh, which completes one year in office next week, has its task cut out to revive the economy of the state without compromising on the implementation of the welfare agenda. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a seasoned politician, sounded confident of bringing the state's financial prudence back on track.

"Brick by brick, we are rebuilding the devastated state. In just one year, we've shown what good governance looks like," Naidu, who is also the TDP president, said while addressing his party's conclave, Mahanadu, in Kadapa on May 29.

His government was working to enhance the image of the Telugu state by attracting the attention of global investors.

The Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), however, described the one-year regime as a big failure and a betrayal of the people's mandate. "The government has gone back on its poll promises. In a span of one year, the people are vexed with the coalition government," YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Tuesday, calling upon the people to observe the "Betrayal Day" on June 4.

Having secured a landslide mandate a year ago (June 4) by winning 164 out of the 175 seats, the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance, also comprising BJP and the Jana Sena Party, has generated high expectations among people. The coalition also swept the Lok Sabha polls, winning 21 out of 25 seats, dealing a massive blow to the former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party, which could get only 11 assembly and four Lok Sabha seats.

Priorities drawn Returning to CM position for the fourth time, Naidu began his latest tenure on a positive note by substantially increasing pensions, as promised before the polls, and also revoking the controversial land titling law introduced by his predecessor. He also revived Anna Canteens and fulfilled the promise of supplying three free gas cylinders annually to poor women.