Naidu fulfils his vow

The 16th Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly commenced on Friday. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by TDP legislators, ministers, and MLAs, began the day by paying floral tributes to the idol of TDP founder Dr. NTR in Venkatapalem before heading to the Assembly.
Chandrababu Naidu had previously stated on November 19, 2021, that he would only return to the Assembly as Chief Minister. On Friday, he fulfilled that promise by attending the Assembly sessions in his capacity as Chief Minister.
Naidu had walked out of the Assembly on that day in 2021, protesting against derogatory remarks made by the then-ruling party members about his family. He declared the Assembly was not honourable, referring to it as a “Kaurava Sabha,” and vowed to return only when it regained its respectability.
Now, after more than two years, Naidu re-entered the Assembly proudly as the Chief Minister for the fourth time, supported by 164 members (163 plus himself).
His return marks a significant moment, fulfilling his promise and leading the Assembly with renewed authority.
Later, the maiden session of the 16th Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly commenced with 172 newly-elected legislators taking their oaths of office. Pro-tem Speaker and TDP legislator G Butchaiah Chowdary administered the oaths.
Chandrababu Naidu, who returned to the Assembly two and a half years after vowing not to return until he became chief minister, was the first to take the oath. Naidu, who has become chief minister for the fourth time, was greeted by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members and allies Jana Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The TDP chief embraced Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, who was elected to the Assembly for the first time. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan was the second to take the oath as MLA. Following him, other ministers took their oaths, including Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh, also a new face in the Assembly.
YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took his oath as MLA after the ministers. Jagan greeted Chandrababu Naidu and the treasury benches before and after his oath. The former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy arrived five minutes late and entered the House when it was his turn, leaving immediately after taking his oath.
In the recent elections, the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance secured 164 seats in the 175-member Assembly. YSRCP, which had 151 members in the previous Assembly, was reduced to just 11 seats. The coalition also won 21 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats.
Chief Minister Naidu and 24 ministers had taken their oaths on June 12. Among the ministers, three are from Jana Sena, and one is from BJP. Out of the 175 MLAs, 172 took their oaths on the first day.