Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate N. Chandrababu Naidu is gearing up to don the role of an aggressive marketer, drawing inspiration from his past successes in attracting national and international companies to invest in IT sector, for boosting investments in key areas in the new State.
Mr. Naidu’s plans for organising a grand show of his swearing-in ceremony on June 8 is seen as a step towards showcasing the potential offered by various sectors in the State to the national audience. At the same time, he is planning to seek the cooperation of key ministries in the Union Government in liberal grant of funds for stabilising the finances of the new State, which will start its journey with a deficit budget of over Rs. 10,000 crore.
“By involving the Union Ministers holding key portfolios in the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Naidu wants to send a strong signal of his commitment for development to the industry,” a party MP close to Mr. Naidu told The Hindu .
Mr. Naidu will leave for New Delhi in a couple of days to personally invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NDA partners as also Union Ministers dealing with key portfolios like surface transport, power and water resources that have become essential ingredients to ensure accelerated development of Andhra Pradesh.
According to sources, the TDP planned to utilise the ceremony as a platform to announce its decision of making foray into national politics. But Mr. Naidu’s core team has reportedly changed its plans as there was significant change in the situation at the national and State levels. Mr. Naidu is sure to elaborate on his party’s interest in entering the national political scene, but it is expected to be to a limited extent.
“Mr. Naidu will by and large confine to State-related issues in his address during the swearing-in ceremony and this will kick-start his campaign for attracting investments. Andhra Pradesh needs the Central government’s help at every step from now and the focus, accordingly, will be on putting in place effective development plans,” the MP said.