New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in an interview with NDTV, shared key insights into his political journey and India’s economic transformation. Emphasizing his role in introducing second-generation reforms, Naidu lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and expressed confidence in India’s trajectory towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Naidu stated that he had witnessed significant transitions in the country’s development. “When I began my public life, there were no roads or electricity in many parts. I have always been someone who thinks ahead of time,” he said.
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Referring to the 1991 liberalization, Naidu said that after assuming office as Chief Minister in 1995, he brought in second-generation economic reforms with the support of the then Vajpayee government. “At that time, my views were taken seriously by Prime Minister Vajpayee,” he recalled.
Highlighting India’s early telecom and IT advancements, Naidu mentioned how his observations of China inspired change. “I was envious of China’s mobile revolution. When I proposed a plan to Vajpayee, he asked about funding. I prepared a report, and he implemented it.”
#NDTVExclusive | "Told Nara Lokesh, politics is about serving the people" : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) speaks to NDTV's Nikunj Garg (@NikunjGargN) and Marya Shakil (@maryashakil) on his son his elevation pic.twitter.com/KUsXBGMccC
— NDTV (@ndtv) May 30, 2025
Naidu underscored his role in promoting Hyderabad as an IT hub and pushing for major infrastructure policies. “Cities like Bengaluru and Pune had a head start. But after I became CM, Hyderabad emerged as a key IT destination. The Open Sky Policy and greenfield airport projects were part of my vision,” he noted.
He reiterated his belief in strong leadership, stating, “I am not a kingmaker. I am doing my part for the country’s development. Prime Minister Modi has taken India to the fourth-largest economy in the world. That is a remarkable achievement.”
“India is in a strong position today. I have often said we are fortunate to have the right leader at the right time. With a stable government, PM Modi has laid out the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. I believe we will achieve it,” he added.
#NDTVExclusive | "Initially Bill Gates (@BillGates) had refused to meet me, had given me 10 minutes and I presented my ideas, he was impressed with my presentation" : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) speaks exclusively to NDTV's Nikunj Garg (@NikunjGargN)… pic.twitter.com/KFRwpGMYzC
— NDTV (@ndtv) May 30, 2025
Naidu also spoke about earlier challenges in implementing reforms. “Previous prime ministers feared reforms due to financial implications and lacked understanding of technology. I studied global trends and adopted those learnings.”
Sharing a past meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Naidu said, “I showed him a presentation on India’s IT potential. He was impressed. When asked what we needed, I told him to believe in Indian talent. I invited him to Hyderabad, and he agreed. Later, in Davos, he confirmed the launch of Microsoft’s development centre in the city.”
Naidu’s remarks reflect his longstanding involvement in India’s reform process and his endorsement of Modi’s vision for the nation’s future.