2024: The Year Andhra Pradesh Witnessed a Political Earthquake and Unprecedented Challenges

The year 2024 marked a historic turning point in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape, with N Chandrababu Naidu returning as chief minister for the fourth time, securing the largest electoral margin in the state’s history. This dramatic comeback was underscored by unprecedented challenges, including record-breaking floods in the Krishna river and nationwide controversies surrounding the Tirumala laddu adulteration allegations.

Naidu’s Unstoppable Comeback

After enduring a turbulent phase that included a 53-day jail stint over the ₹371-crore State Skill Development Corporation scam, Naidu led the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to a resounding victory. The TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the TDP, Jana Sena Party (JSP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), swept the assembly elections, winning 164 out of 175 seats.

Naidu’s TDP secured 135 out of 144 contested seats, while the JSP, led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, achieved a perfect record by winning all 21 of its seats. The BJP claimed eight out of its 10 allocated seats. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), once dominant under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, suffered a humiliating loss, reduced to just 11 seats from its 2019 triumph of 151 seats.

This electoral upheaval, marked by a record 81.86% voter turnout, was a clear rejection of Jagan’s governance, despite his welfare-driven campaign slogan, “Why Not 175?”

Swift Governance Amid Challenges

Naidu wasted no time delivering on key promises. Early initiatives included increasing pensions, reviving Anna Canteens, and introducing a scheme to provide three free gas cylinders annually to poor women. However, financial limitations posed challenges in fulfilling other promises, such as unemployment allowances and subsidies for women and farmers.

Devastating Floods in Vijayawada

The Krishna river witnessed its worst flooding in five decades, causing widespread devastation in Vijayawada and surrounding areas. Nearly 40 lives were lost, and over 700,000 people were affected as waters inundated neighborhoods and farmlands. Naidu’s hands-on approach to relief efforts, including operating from a makeshift secretariat and personally delivering aid, earned him widespread acclaim.

Reviving Amaravati and Polavaram

Leveraging his influence as the second-largest NDA partner nationally, Naidu secured substantial financial support for the revival of the Amaravati capital project and the Polavaram irrigation project. Construction resumed with international funding and expertise, setting ambitious timelines for completion.

Controversies and Scandals

2024 also saw political controversies dominate headlines. Naidu’s explosive allegations of animal fat adulteration in Tirumala laddus during the YSRCP tenure triggered a national debate. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the claims.

Meanwhile, familial disputes within Jagan’s household over property shares spilled into public view, with Jagan accusing his sister YS Sharmila and their mother of illicit transfers. Further allegations by the US SEC implicated Jagan in a ₹1,750-crore bribery scandal involving Gautam Adani, though the charges remain unproven.

The Road Ahead

As 2024 concludes, Andhra Pradesh finds itself at a critical juncture. Naidu faces significant governance challenges, including financial constraints and high public expectations. Simultaneously, Jagan Mohan Reddy is striving to rebuild his political fortunes, focusing on agitations against rising electricity costs and unfulfilled promises by the Naidu government.

The year has not only reshaped Andhra Pradesh’s political landscape but also set the stage for a high-stakes battle for the state’s future.