Chandrababu Naidu 68th Birthday: The Politician on a Mission to get Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh

N Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief, is celebrating his birthday in an unusual way. He is fasting on the day of his 68th birthday. The fast is dedicated for the cause of ‘Dharma Porata Diksha’ or ‘Fight for Justice’, demanding the Centre to grant the Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh as promised. He is also seeking the fulfillment of commitments that was made in the AP Reorgansation Act, after Telangana was separated from the state of Andhra Pradesh. Some would say that it's an unusual thing to do for a politician. The truth is that Nara Chandrababu Naidu has never been an ordinary politician.

Chandrababu Naidu was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1994 to 2004 and then became the chief minister again after Andhra Pradesh was divided into two: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In between, he was the leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Chandrababu Naidu is not only known for his business acumen but also for his business sense. He has been awarded the South Asian of the year by Time Asia, and has been a member of the World Economic Forum's Cabinet. Talking about his early years in life, Naidu was born on 20 April, 1950 at Naravari Palle, Chittor district in Andhra Pradesh in a farmer's family. He used to walk long distance to reach his school. Naidu completed his BA in 1972, enrolled in the MA (economics) course and in 1974 started work on his Ph D under the guidance of Professor D L Narayana, and it's not clear if he completed it. Naidu had always been a "people's person" and he joined the youth Congress movement in 1970s. Naidu became an MLA from Chandragiri constituency in 1978 and was soon appointed as techincal education and cinematography minister in then Chief Minister Tanguturi Anjaiah's government. He was only 28 then. This is when he came in touch with N. T. Rama Rao, the biggest superstar of Telugu cinema who also became the chief minister of the state. Naidu married Bhuvaneswari, NTR's daughter. NTR formed Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 which won the elections in 1982. Slowly, Naidu started gaining control of the party and there came a time when he himself replaced NTR in a coup owing to extended family issues. He first became the chief minister in the year 1994 and hasn't looked back since.

Chandrababu Naidu is currently on a mission to get the Special Category Status for the state of Andhra Pradesh. Being the smart politician he is, he knows that being at the forefront of the movement to get the status for Andhra would boost his credentials even further and endear him to the masses of Andhra Pradesh. He has already made his party quit NDA over the issue and has been criticising PM Modi and centre for not granting AP the status. Future days are anything but dull for this ever striving politician who will celebrate his birthday with a fast. Chandrababu Naidu is different, and he is proving it now, along with reminding everyone that he is a politician first and last.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2018 01:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).