2024 may be my last election if not voted to power, says Chandrababu Naidu

Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu has stated that the 2024 assembly elections would be the last he would be leading contesting if his Telugu Desam Party is not returned to power in those polls.

Naidu (72), a three-time CM, made the emotional pitch to the public during a rally in Pattikonda of Kurnool district on Wednesday evening.

The appeal came nearly a year after his vow to boycott the Andhra Pradesh Assembly sessions till the 2024 elections.

“I took the decision as the state assembly was turned into a Kaurava sabha. I vowed to reenter the house only after winning the elections and reinstating the Gaurava (honor) sabha,” Naidu said during his speech attacking the YSRCP government of Jaganmohan Reddy.

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“If you (Andhra Pradesh public) want me to go back to the Assembly, to continue in politics, to do justice to the state, vote for the TDP. Otherwise, I am telling you now, it will be my last election,” the opposition leader said.

YSRCP ministers reacted sharply, sarcastically, saying that Naidu's latest pledge shows his desperation to return to power.

“Naidu's “please, last chance,” statement betrays his lack of confidence,” said AP irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu.

“This is akin to blackmailing. Anyway, there is no loss to anyone if you exit the political, public spheres,” said Gudivada Amarnath, industries minister.

On November 19 last year, Naidu walked out of the AP assembly, alleging that the YSRCP MLAs were dragging his wife (entrepreneur Nara Bhuvaneshwari) into political muck, attempting to assassinate her character. The Kuppam MLA said he was pained by the continuous slur, “now at the point of ugly targeting of my family.”

In a press conference telecast live on Telugu news channels later on the same day, the TDP chief broke down in tears, saying that he was deeply hurt by the ruling party's abuses.

Naidu's prayer now to voters comes even as the TDP is facing an uphill battle against the ruling YSRCP and uncertainty continues over poll alliances with the Janasena, BJP.

From 102 seats in 2014, the TDP strength fell to its all-time low of 23 MLAs in the 2019 polls.

The YSRCP, which stormed to power bagging 151 out of 175 seats, has been winning every bypoll, all elections to the local bodies.

The ruling party even managed to upset Naidu in his stronghold by taking hold of Kuppam municipality. Jagan has now set the target of winning all 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.