Naidu all set to be CM for third time

HYDERABAD: After overcoming various problems during the last 10 years in which the TDP remained in the opposition, party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is all set to sit on the chief minister's throne for the third time, only to face another daunting task of reconstructing the cash-starved residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

The stage is set for the swearing-in of 64-year-old Naidu as chief minister for the third time on Sunday.

The TDP chief, who had become minister at a young age of 28 in the united AP and served as the chief minister of the State from 1995 to 2004, is going to break his own record of having been the longest serving Telugu CM on Sunday at 7.27 pm, the auspicious time, when Governor ESL Narasimhan would administer Naidu oath of office and secrecy.

A sprawling 70-acre open ground, opposite Nagarjuna University campus on Vijayawada-Guntur stretch has been decked with yellow flags for the swearing-in of Naidu and his Cabinet.

The CM-designate has already dropped enough hints that he is considering the place for the new capital of AP. Hence, considering the occasion as prestigious for them, the TDP leaders and cadre from Guntur and Krishna districts have made elaborate arrangements for the mega event.

Roads leading to the venue from Vijayawada, Guntur, Amaravathi and Tenali have turned yellow with TDP leaders placing huge hoardings, party flags, cut-outs, banners, festoons and balloons.

As several Union ministers, chief ministers of various states, top politicos and business tycoons in the country are attending the swearing-in of Naidu, a strong contingent of 10,000 policemen have been posted in and around the venue to take care of security requirements.

Naidu, who was once considered as the poster boy for economic reforms and was branded as an anti-farmer CM, this time would sign the first file after taking oath pertaining to waiver of crop loans to display his commitment to the welfare of rural people. According to sources, the CM-designate will put his signature on the farm loan waiver file at 8.45 pm on Sunday.

Even though Naidu will fulfil his poll promise of waiving crop loans on Sunday itself, according to sources, it will take another 10 days for the actual implementation of this promise as Naidu is planning to appoint a committee to formulate modalities of the scheme which will impose a huge financial burden on the new government.

After signing the crop loan waiver file, Naidu will endorse the file pertaining to waiver of loans given to women's self-help groups. Later, he will ratify the file relating cancellation of belt shops as promised by him. As far as his council of ministers, the CM-designate is understood to be contemplating to induct seasoned politicos into his Cabinet.