Chandrababu Naidu Campaigns for BJP in Delhi, Highlights Andhra Pradesh’s Development in Union Budget
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu actively participated in election campaigning in Delhi last night, lending his support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates. He addressed rallies in areas with a large Telugu-speaking population and continued his stay in Delhi today, where he held a press conference to discuss various issues, including Delhi’s governance and Andhra Pradesh’s progress.
Naidu emphasized that the future of Delhi’s development lies in BJP’s leadership. “Delhi is our capital, and it represents our collective self-respect,” Naidu remarked, stressing the importance of effective governance in the national capital.
The Chief Minister did not hold back in his criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, particularly its handling of Delhi’s issues. “Foreign visitors first arrive in Delhi, but due to governance failures over the past ten years, the city has been deteriorating. Delhi now faces the highest levels of weather pollution and political pollution in the world,” he stated. He accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of misleading the public with baseless claims and pointed to deteriorating public health, water contamination, and pollution as key issues. “Dirty water is mixing with drinking water in Delhi’s streets, and residents are being forced to consume contaminated water. The city is visibly unclean, and the Yamuna River has been entirely polluted,” Naidu added. He concluded that only the BJP could bring about the much-needed development and welfare for the city.
On the national front, Naidu lauded the Union Budget, particularly its emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and green energy, as policies that would drive India’s progress. Quoting Telugu poet Gurajada Apparao, he appreciated Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for reflecting the sentiment that “a nation is not just its land but its people,” which aligns with his vision for the country’s growth.
Naidu also shared the significant financial allocations for Andhra Pradesh from the Union Budget, which included:
- ₹15,000 crore for the development of Amaravati.
- ₹12,157 crore sanctioned for the Polavaram project, with ₹5,936 crore allocated in the current budget.
- ₹11,440 crore package for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, with ₹3,295 crore included in the budget.
- ₹730 crore for Visakhapatnam Port and ₹285 crore for the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor.
- Additional funding for railway zone buildings in Visakhapatnam and ₹5 crore for the development of industrial corridors in Kopparthi and Orvakal.
Chandrababu Naidu asserted that Andhra Pradesh had fallen behind by 30 years due to past misgovernance, particularly post-bifurcation, and called for leadership focused on equitable wealth distribution. “We need leaders who distribute wealth, not those who loot it,” he remarked.
Highlighting the state’s recent accomplishments, Naidu emphasized that Andhra Pradesh had attracted ₹7 lakh crore in investments within seven months and was targeting a 15% growth rate. “The Davos trip was successful, and several international industries are coming to Andhra Pradesh,” he said, focusing on job creation and economic growth. He further aligned Andhra Pradesh’s policies with the central government’s priorities, including AI, green energy, agriculture, poverty eradication, and MSMEs.
Responding to concerns over the state’s mention in the budget, Naidu explained, “What matters is the financial support, not whether the state’s name is explicitly mentioned. With the central government’s assistance, we will make Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country.”
As the campaign in Delhi intensifies, Naidu continues to advocate for both his state’s development and BJP’s leadership, reinforcing his belief that the path forward lies in the governance model laid out by the central government.
