AP assembly hails Naidu on completing 40 years of public life

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly today passed a resolution congratulating Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on his completing 40 years of public life.

Naidu took oath as an MLA for the first time as a Congress nominee on this day in 1978. Since then he has been elected to the Assembly seven times.

"There have been many experiences, many more opportunities and many crises as well during these 40 years," he said.

"No other political leader in the country would have faced such tribulations like me," Naidu said.

He served as chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh for nearly ten years (September 1995 to May 2004) and Leader of Opposition for a decade (from 2004 to 2014).

He became Chief Minister of truncated AP again in June 2014 after the state bifurcation.

Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu moved the seven-page resolution on behalf of the government hailing Naidu's leadership.

While recounting Naidu's long political career and his contribution to the state, the resolution hoped Andhra Pradesh would transform into a golden state under his leadership.

It also wished him a 100-year life filled with happiness and good health.

The House also congratulated deputy chief minister K E Krishnamurthy who completed 40 years as a legislator.

Replying after several ministers and members spoke in the House, Naidu recalled his role in national politics during the National Front, United Front and later the NDA regimes.

"I was instrumental in selection of A P J Abdul Kalam as the Presidential candidate.I prevailed upon then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and got Kalam chosen though Vajpayee's choice was P C Alexander," he said.

He also claimed he was instrumental in the launch of Golden Quadrilateral and other key development projects and also the 'open sky policy', besides the telecom revolution.

"As convener of the committee on digital economy, I suggested to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that currency notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 denomination be scrapped and total digital currency introduced to root out corruption," he said.

"This would also check money distribution during elections. It is a crucial reform but somehow that did not happen," he said.

Naidu said TDP founder-president and his father-in-law N T Rama Rao was not only his mentor but also "my God.