Naidu's cabinet expansion delay sparks alliance discipline talk
Naga Babu's entry held up by TDP rank-and-file pushback; his recent measured tone signals maturing stance.
Amaravati, November 04, 2025: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's promised cabinet induction of Janasena leader Naga Babu remains on hold, as TDP grassroots members resist due to the actor-politician's earlier sharp critiques of the party and its figures, including Nandamuri Balakrishna.
The delay, months after the initial pledge, underscores internal frictions within the NDA coalition, with sources indicating Naidu's team is weighing the political costs of the move amid efforts to solidify unity.
Naga Babu, freshly appointed as an MLC, has adopted a more restrained approach in recent exchanges, notably during a controversy over Balakrishna's assembly remarks targeting Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. He emphasised alliance protocols, stating that members must toe the line regardless of personal views, a shift from his prior fiery style.
This evolution, seen as a positive for his trajectory and Janasena's optics, may smooth his entry, while Balakrishna, a three-term MLA, faces calls to temper his delivery.
