Surveys Favour NDA, Says CM Chandrababu as He Predicts Another Big Win

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday expressed confidence that the NDA alliance would secure another decisive victory whenever elections are held in the state, citing recent surveys that he said continued to show strong support for the ruling coalition.

Speaking at a public meeting in Mogalthur in the Narsapuram constituency of West Godavari district, after participating in the NTR Bharosa social security pension distribution programme, Naidu said voters had given the TDP-BJP-Jana Sena alliance an unprecedented mandate in the last election and surveys suggested the coalition would repeat its performance if elections were held again.

He alleged that Andhra Pradesh had suffered significantly under the previous YSRCP government and said people had voted the coalition to power to put the state back on the development path. With support from the Centre, the government was delivering effective governance and implementing welfare programmes, he said.

Naidu criticised the YSRCP's opposition to unanimous results in local body elections, asking what an opposition party could do if people themselves chose candidates unanimously. He said the government would hold direct elections for mayors and municipal chairpersons, enabling voters to directly choose their preferred leaders.

The Chief Minister said 34% reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies, in place since 1996, had been reduced by the previous government. He alleged that the YSRCP moved court when efforts began to restore BC reservations and sought a halt to elections until voter-list reorganisation was completed. He accused the party of obstructing development out of fear of defeat, adding that the progress of villages and towns depended on stronger local bodies.

Recalling 31 years since he first took oath as Chief Minister, Naidu highlighted his government's reforms and welfare measures. He said ₹73,507 crore had been distributed as welfare pensions to the poor in the state so far, while ₹1.5 lakh crore had been spent on welfare programmes over the past two years.

The government was working to address backwardness among BCs, SCs, STs, minorities and other disadvantaged groups, he said. He also cited 33% reservation for women, saying around one lakh women had emerged as MSME entrepreneurs in the past year. Products made by DWCRA women were being promoted under the Swayam brand for better market access.

Naidu criticised legal challenges to the Mega DSC recruitment drive for 16,000 teachers, saying development could not be stopped. He said Godavari water would be taken through the Polavaram project's left main canal to North Andhra, reaching Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam next year, before efforts were extended towards the Vamsadhara river.

He also said the government was protecting the aquaculture sector from the impact of the US-Iran conflict, offering subsidised power at ₹1.50 per unit. The government was also expanding technology-based governance and exploring future public services such as AI tutors and AI doctors, Naidu said.