Chandrababu Naidu Praises PM Modi's 25-Year Leadership, Says Public Trust Has Sustained His Journey

In an article published in *The Hindu*, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said political leadership cannot remain effective for 25 years through politics alone. He credited Modi's track record, personal integrity and discipline for helping him retain public confidence over an extended period.

Naidu said leaders today operate under constant public scrutiny, making sustained political trust particularly difficult to maintain. He praised Modi's ability to understand people's aspirations, convert them into policy and communicate the outcomes back to citizens.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said only a few political leaders get the opportunity to influence an entire generation, while even fewer can shape the direction of a nation. He argued that one of Modi's significant contributions over the past 25 years has been restoring confidence in India's ability to pursue ambitious national goals.

Reflecting on his own 48 years in public life, Naidu said he had witnessed political parties rise and decline, leaders emerge and lose influence, and governments and economies undergo major transformations. He said these experiences had reinforced his belief that leadership remains a critical factor in determining a country's progress, particularly when technology, capital, knowledge and ideas are increasingly accessible worldwide.

Naidu noted that Modi completed 25 consecutive years in executive office on October 7, 2026, beginning with his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and continuing as Prime Minister since 2014. He described the period as one marked by continuity in Modi's stated focus on India's development and the empowerment of its citizens.

The TDP chief also pointed to the challenges India and the wider world have faced during this period, including the global financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, wars, geopolitical shifts, technological disruption and economic uncertainty. Against this backdrop, he said India had maintained relative stability and emerged as an important source of economic optimism.

Naidu credited the Modi government with accelerating infrastructure development, expanding welfare programmes, increasing the use of technology in governance and strengthening India's position internationally.

He cited the expansion of India's National Highway network from around 91,287 km in 2014 to more than 1.46 lakh km, while the number of airports has risen from 74 to over 160. He also highlighted the rapid increase in railway electrification and renewable energy capacity, saying infrastructure was increasingly being developed as an integrated national network through initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti.

On welfare delivery, Naidu highlighted the distribution of free foodgrains to around 80 crore people, the increase in rural household tap-water coverage from approximately 17 per cent in 2019 to more than 82 per cent, and estimates that 24.8 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

He said technology had enabled government benefits and essential services to reach citizens more directly and transparently than before.

Naidu, who has frequently emphasised technology-led development, also praised Modi's approach to emerging technologies. He said the Prime Minister had recognised technology as a means of improving governance, expanding opportunities and accelerating economic development.

He pointed to India's Digital Public Infrastructure as an example of technology being used to expand access to banking, welfare and public services. He also cited the government's quantum mission, semiconductor initiatives and Production Linked Incentive schemes in electronics and advanced manufacturing as examples of its push to strengthen India's position in emerging industries.

On the space sector, Naidu said opening the industry to private companies and building an enabling ecosystem had encouraged a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also highlighted Modi's emphasis on "Team India", saying India's development could not be driven by the Union government alone. He said the focus on cooperative and competitive federalism had given States and cities a greater role in the country's growth.

Naidu further said India's global standing had changed significantly during Modi's tenure, with the country now having a stronger voice on international platforms while maintaining its national interests and strategic autonomy.

Looking ahead, he pointed to India's young population, entrepreneurial energy and technological capabilities as major strengths. He argued that decisions taken in the present could influence the country's development for generations.

Naidu said Modi's first 25 years in executive office had established his political record, while the coming decades would determine how India translates the momentum of this period into long-term national progress. He expressed confidence that the direction set during Modi's tenure would contribute to India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and strengthening its position among the world's leading countries.