Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, 17 September 2026, declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is steering India towards the league of developed nations, speaking at the Varanasi–Vadnagar Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programme in Varanasi. The event was organised to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Modi's public service career.

Naidu's tribute at Modi's karmabhoomi

Addressing the gathering, Naidu called Kashi the karmabhoomi of Prime Minister Modi, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Varanasi three consecutive times. According to a release by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Naidu said Kashi had not merely elected a local leader but had given the entire country a national leader.

The TDP chief opened his speech with a few words in Hindi, a gesture noted by those present, before switching to his native Telugu for the substantive address. He said the country was visibly changing and progressing under Modi's leadership.

Key welfare milestones cited

Naidu cited a series of government welfare figures. He claimed that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty and 80 crore people are receiving free foodgrains. Through schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT, drinking-water facilities have reportedly been extended to 4 crore households.

He added that PM-KISAN is benefiting 11 crore farmers, with funds transferred directly into their bank accounts, bypassing intermediaries. At a time when several countries were facing economic and political crises, Prime Minister Modi had provided leadership that protected the interests of 140 crore Indians, Naidu said.

Defence, start-ups, and women's empowerment

Naidu credited the Modi government with transforming India from a defence-equipment importer into an exporter, and highlighted the Prime Minister's focus on emerging technologies — including space, drones, quantum technology, semiconductors, and robotics — as avenues of opportunity for India's youth.

On the entrepreneurship front, Naidu noted that India now has 2.20 lakh start-ups, ranking third globally among countries with strong start-up ecosystems. He argued this shift had turned a generation of job-seekers into job creators.

On women's welfare, he highlighted schemes including Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao, Lakhpati Didi, Ujjwala, and Mudra, calling the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures — a potential game changer.

Operation Sindoor and a temple pitch to Yogi

Naidu described India as having emerged as a strong global power and cited Operation Sindoor as an example of the country's decisive response to security challenges. He congratulated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the conduct of the operation, noting that India had also made significant progress in eliminating Naxalism and Maoism.

The Chief Minister also praised the completion of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, calling it the realisation of a long-pending national aspiration. He then appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allot 10 acres of land in Ayodhya for the construction of a Lord Venkateswara temple, proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Earlier in the day, Naidu offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple alongside Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Chirag Paswan, as well as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Varanasi–Vadnagar Seva Yatra, which connects the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency with his birthplace, serves as the centrepiece of the broader Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. All eyes will now be on whether Naidu's temple appeal receives a formal response from the Uttar Pradesh government.