Naidu elected TDLP leader

• Turns nostalgic on entering SVU campus
• Says leaders invited to witness pathetic conditions in AP
• Reiterates resolve to make AP Swarnandhra

Tirupati: N Chandrbabu Naidu is elected Telugu Desam Legislature Party leader here on Wednesday. At the TDLP meeting held at SV University, his name was proposed by party senior leader KE Krishnamurthy and was seconded by P Sujatha and others. As no other name was proposed by anyone, Chandrababu Naidu has been declared elected unanimously as TDLP leader amidst thundering applause from party MLAs.

After the election addressing party MLAs Chandrababu Naidu said that the TDP will fulfill all the promises made to various sections of people including waiving of farm loans and SHG loan and also providing unemployment allowance to jobless youth. During his long speech, Naidu said that it was the party workers who suffered more at the hands of Congress government, when the party was in opposition. It was they who deserve the credit for the party victory in the election, he added. ``Let us all dedicate the victory to party workers and it was their sacrifice that saw the party bounce back to power,’’ he said.

Naidu turned nostalgic and said it was here (SV University) he had his post graduation and also learnt the nuances of politics as students’ leader. Saying that he never dreamt of getting elected as legislature party leader in the same university where he had his education, he said it is beauty and greatness of democracy that people like him belonging to a middle class family achieving such unique honour. He became emotional when he recalled his miraculous escape in the Alipiri bomb blast and said it was God Venkateswara’s wish that he survived, as he (God) willed him to live to do service to the people.

On inviting prime minister and chief ministers of other said he said it was not to make a show but to provide them a glimpse of the most pathetic condition of the residuary state and to impress them all on the imminent need of liberal support to ensure a level playing ground for the state to progress on par with other states.

With Chandrababu Naidu elected as TD LP leader, the decks are now cleared for him to become the first chief minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh. A host of party senior MLA including B Gopalakrishna Reddy, K Sivaprasad, M Buddaprasad who spoke reaffirmed their support and loyalty to Naidu to make the state as Swarnandhra.

Earlier, Naidu arrived at Renigunta airport to a tumultuous welcome by party leaders and activists after which he proceeded to Tirupti followed by a huge contingent party leaders in vehicles.