Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the 2024 elections would be his last if people did not elect the party to power.

In an emotion-filled tone at a roadshow in this district late on Wednesday night, Naidu 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.

The TDP has 23 MLAs in the 175-member AP Assembly. 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 elections 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.

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This should become a point of debate in each household. "My fight is for the future of children, the future of the state. It's not 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," Naidu added.

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(Edited by : Sangam Singh)

First Published:Nov 17, 2022 3:14 PM IST