Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party, took oath as Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister for the fourth consecutive term on Wednesday, June 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and various other leaders, graced the swearing-in ceremony.
The oath-taking ceremony took place around 11:27 am near Gannavaram Airport in Kesarapalli, on the outskirts of Vijayawada. Besides Naidu, Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan, Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh, and 22 others also took their oaths.
Pawan Kalyan is reportedly being considered for the position of deputy chief minister, with Janasena offered three cabinet positions and the Bharatiya Janata Party one.
In the 175-member Andhra Pradesh assembly, the cabinet can accommodate up to 26 ministers, including the chief minister.
In separate gatherings on Tuesday, June 11, the Telugu Desam Legislature Party and NDA allies elected Naidu as their leader.
Naidu emphasized his commitment to developing Amaravati as the sole capital of the state while addressing the legislators. He expressed gratitude for their cooperation and mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the swearing-in ceremony, stating that he had sought the Union government’s support for Andhra Pradesh’s progress, which was assured.
Several South Indian celebrities, including Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, and actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, were present at the event held in Gannavaram Mandal, Kesarapalli IT Park.
Naidu initially assumed office as chief minister in 1995 and served two consecutive terms until 2004, during the tenure of united Andhra Pradesh. His third term commenced after the state’s bifurcation.
After winning the 2014 elections, Naidu served as the first chief minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh until 2019. He then served as the opposition leader until 2024, following which he secured a resounding victory in the 2024 elections, reclaiming the position of CM for a fourth term, displacing the YSRCP.
The NDA achieved a sweeping victory in the recent simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state, securing 164 of the 175 assembly seats and 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats.