N. Chandrababu Naidu is an Indian Politician and the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, from 1994 to 2004. With a modern outlook to administration, his style of functioning was more alike to that of a CEO rather than a traditional politician. N. Chandrababu Naidu had a firm conviction that modern technology should be used in the service of the common man. Naidu ushered the administrative setup into modernisation by computerising a number of Government Operations. Consequently, he laid great emphasis on the use of modern Information Technology and transformed Hyderabad into the IT hub of the nation. N. Chandrababu Naidu was also the President of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Andhra Pradesh from the year 1996.
Early Life of N. Chandrababu Naidu
N. Chandrababu Naidu was born on 20th April 1950 to parents N K Naidu and Ammanamma, in the Naravaripally village of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. His father was an agriculturist. N. Chandrababu Naidu had his school education in Chandragiri and his college education at the Sri Venkateswara Arts College, Tirupati. He earned a Masters degree in Economics from the Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. While pursuing his Ph.D. at the same university, Naidu ventured into politics.
Career of N. Chandrababu Naidu
N. Chandrababu Naidu organised a number of social activities and also held various positions of office in his college. In 1978, Naidu was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Chandragiri constituency in Chittoor district on an Indian National Congress ticket. He became a Cabinet minister of Tanguturi Anjaiah and held various portfolios like Archives, Cinematography, Technical Education, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Public Libraries, and Minor Irrigation from 1980 to 1983. He also served as the Chairman of the State Karshak Parishad, constituted for the first time to look after the welfare of the farming community.
But he lost the elections from Chandragiri in 1983. Again N. Chandrababu Naidu was elected to the State legislature from Kuppam constituency of Chittoor district in 1989.
The mantle of leadership fell on the shoulders of Naidu at a most critical juncture in the State`s politics. N. Chandrababu Naidu succeeded N.T. Rama Rao, the founder of Telugu Desam Party and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 1st September, 1995. N.T. Rama Rao died a few months later. Naidu led TDP to victory in the following State Assembly elections, and on 11th October, 1999, Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the second term.
Achievements of N. Chandrababu Naidu
N. Chandrababu Naidu has won numerous awards including, IT Indian of the Millennium, (India Today), Business Person of the Year (Economic Times), Member of the World Economic Forum`s Dream Cabinet and South Asian of the Year (Time Asia). N. Chandrababu Naidu was chosen as one of 50 leaders at the forefront of change in the year 2000 by the Business Week magazine for being an unflinching proponent of technology and for his drive to transform the State.
Publications of N. Chandrababu Naidu
The politician turned author wrote a book on governance. Naidu penned down his ideas on the challenge of governance in the new millennium. Titled Plain Speaking, co-authored by Ninan Sevanti, focuses on changing strategies of governance, hurdles in pursuing reforms and the need to break free from the politics of populism.
Personal Life of N. Chandrababu Naidu
N. Chandrababu Naidu is married to Bhuvaneswari and has a son Lokesh. His father-in-law, the late Mr. N.T. Rama Rao, was one of the most accomplished film actors of Telugu cinema, who later founded the Telugu Desam Party and was also the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.