Mr Naidu, a former Indian National Congress leader and ally of Mr Modi, could determine the shape and stability of the next government. Mr Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is based in Andhra Pradesh and is the second-largest party in Mr Modi’s NDA with 16 seats.
Naidu supports Modi, but in 2019 he was at the forefront of rallying all opposition parties against him.
Mr Naidu, 74, is out on bail after being jailed last year on corruption charges which he denies. Investigations are ongoing but may be put on the back burner after Mr Naidu won separate local elections to head the state government.
Naidu is seeking a senior party post in the next Modi government, a source close to the matter told Reuters. “Naidu is a very astute politician and I believe he will tread carefully,” said Pentapati Pullarao, an economist and political analyst.
Hailed as a tech-savvy politician, Naidu often recounts his meeting with Microsoft founder Bill Gates more than two decades ago when he was chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the former capital of the state that now houses the Indian offices of many software giants, including Microsoft.
Naidu was first elected to the state assembly in 1978 as a member of the Indian National Congress and became leader of the TDP in the 1990s, effectively dethroning his father-in-law, who founded the party. In contrast to the BJP’s image, Naidu is known for his moderate views on India’s Muslim minority.
