Kurnool (AP), Nov 17: The 2024 elections would be his last if people did not elect the Telugu Desam Party to power, its chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said.
In an emotion-filled tone at a roadshow in Kurnool district late on Wednesday night, the former Chief Minister recalled his vow not to step into the Assembly till the TDP returned to power.
"If I have to go (back) to the Assembly, if I have to stay in politics and if justice is to be done to Andhra Pradesh unless you ensure our victory in the next election that could well be my last election," Naidu said.
"Will you bless me? Do you trust me," he asked the people, who responded rapturously.
Alleging that the ruling YSR Congress insulted his wife on the floor of the House, the Leader of Opposition had on November 19, 2021 vowed to step into the Andhra Pradesh Assembly again only after returning to power.
Reminding people at the roadshow of his vow, Naidu said the next election would be his last if he was not voted back to power.
"I will only set things right and put the state back on the track of progress and hand over the future to others," he added.
This should become a point of debate in each household. "My fight is for the future of children, future of the state. It's not a tall talk. I had done it before and there is a model (to prove it)," the TDP chief noted.
"Think about it. Weigh the pros and cons. If what I am saying is right, cooperate with me," he urged the people.
Naidu observed that he was "physically very fit."
"Some people are mocking at my age. I and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi are of the same age. (Biden) became American President at the age of 79," the 72-year old TDP leader said.
Rebutting the YSRC's claim that Naidu would do away with all the freebie schemes if he was elected again, the TDP supremo asserted that he would in fact do better.
"I will develop (the state) and create wealth. That will increase the revenue and with that we will implement the welfare schemes. In fact, we will do better but, unlike (Chief Minister) Jagan Mohan Reddy, we will not borrow heavily for that," the former Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that the government regime borrowed money indiscriminately and pushed the state into a debt trap.
"They even mortgaged the state's assets to raise loans heavily," Chandrababu added.
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Patna (PTI): Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the RJD by his father and founding president Lalu Prasad, has announced that he would contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections from Mahua seat in Vaishali district as an Independent candidate.
He is currently the MLA of Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here on Saturday evening, he said, "Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from Mahua assembly seat as an Independent candidate. My opponents must have started to feel an itch."
"I have people's support... a large number of people are now connected with my 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav', a social media platform to reach out to people," he added.
He further claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would not retain his post after the assembly polls.
"I am confident that 'chacha' (Nitish) will not become the CM... those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them," he said.
The former Bihar minister was expelled from the party on May 25 by his father Lalu Prasad for six years.
He was expelled a day after he reportedly confessed on social media to being "in a relationship" with a woman named Anushka.
He, however, later deleted the Facebook post with a claim that his page was "hacked". Lalu Prasad also disowned Tej Pratap due to his "irresponsible behaviour".
A few days after his expulsion from the party, Tej Pratap had alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav.
He had voiced his sentiments in a couple of posts on his X handle, blaming the crisis on 'Jaichand', a metaphor for traitors.
His expulsion came barely a few months ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, which the RJD will fight under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Born to Prasad and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers of Bihar, the two brothers are among four of nine siblings active in politics.
Tej Pratap Yadav had made his political debut in the assembly polls of 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet.