6/13/24, 4:27 PM High expectations: On Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister - The Hindu

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High expectations: On
Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra
Pradesh Chief Minister
Mr. Naidu must focus on creating jobs while continuing welfare schemes
Updated - June 13, 2024 08:26 am IST Published - June 13, 2024 12:20 am IST

With Telugu Desam Party leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu having taken oath as Andhra
Pradesh’s Chief Minister for a record fourth time, the expectation is that this will bring to
an end the vacillations over several policy decisions that have plagued the State and its
economy. The grand ceremony saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several National
Democratic Alliance partners in attendance. As anticipated, top priority has been accorded
to Mr. Naidu’s unfinished dream — a world-class capital at Amaravati, nestled between
two of Andhra’s biggest cities, Guntur and Vijayawada, and on the banks of the Krishna.
Mr. Naidu has already indicated that he would revitalise this project that was stalled by
his predecessor, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. It would be imperative, however, to enact a law
on the capital region to settle the matter, as flip flops over a capital for a large State such as
Andhra Pradesh have been to the detriment of governance, the economy and businesses,
and a psychological dampener for a people already reeling from the loss of Hyderabad. The
Chief Minister must also address environmental concerns for the Krishna due to the
impending and rapid urbanisation.
Mr. Naidu is viewed as a pro-corporate urbaniser, focusing on building cities and largely
neglecting agriculture and allied sectors. While he has been rightly credited for
Hyderabad’s emergence as an IT power centre, he must now make good his promise to
Andhra’s farmers to lift them out of stagnation and poverty. Indeed, complimenting the
“super six” promises in the manifesto of the NDA alliance in the State was an annual
₹20,000 input cost for the farmer. But Andhra’s agriculture sector, much like the rest of
the country, requires a systemic approach to increasing farmers’ incomes, generating
sustainable livelihoods, reducing food waste by expanding cold storage supply chain
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6/13/24, 4:27 PM High expectations: On Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister - The Hindu

facilities, and increasing output efficiency by implementing climate-smart farming

practices. As a futuristic leader, one would hope Mr. Naidu would take these cues. But the
most pressing concern, of creating jobs, while continuing the unemployment allowance
and other welfare measures begun by his predecessor, must be his top priority. Only this
will inspire faith in his government and his governance.

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