TDP storms to power in Andhra Assembly

The state is set to see the return of N Chandrababu Naidu as chief minister for a fourth time

- SHINE JACOB

Andhra Pradesh witnessed a strong comeback by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday when the party and its alliance were leading in 165 of the total 175 seats in the state.

According to the latest updates, the alliance had already won 163 seats. While TDP itself led in a majority of 119 seats, alliance partners like Telugu film star Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party were leading in 20 seats, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in six seats at the time of going to print.

On the other hand, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) managed to hold on to a lead in six seats, compared to the thumping majority of 151 seats it had in 2019.

The TDP had won only 23 seats, and the Jana Sena one seat during the last Assembly polls. The state is set to see the return of N Chandrababu Naidu as its chief minister for the fourth time, and the second time after bifurcation in 2014. He is reportedly gearing up to take oath on June 9.

The TDP was leading in 16 of the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats, becoming a key force nationally (the BJP is ahead in three seats and Jana Sena in two).