Chandrababu Naidu turns 60,

Hyderabad, April 20: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists Tuesday organised blood donation camps and fed the poor in several places across Andhra Pradesh to mark the 60th birthday of party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.Apart from these programmes, Naidu spent some time at Krushi Street children's home in Medchal block of Ranga Reddy district near here. The former chief minister inquired about the facilities available to the street children and deposited Rs.10,000 for each of the orphans. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said he wished to see in his lifetime a society free of poverty. Mild tension prevailed during Naidu's visit to Medchal as some pro-Telangana activists tried to stop his convoy, demanding that he take a clear stand on the Telangana issue. Naidu, who comes from Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region, has not taken a clear stand either in support of or against separate statehood to Telangana region but has allowed party leaders from the region to air their views in favour of a separate state. A large number of party leaders and activists, meanwhile, reached his residence in Jubilee Hills here to greet Naidu. He cut a cake to celebrate the occasion with his followers and well-wishers. Naidu's brother-in-law N. Harikrishna, N. Balakrishna and other members of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao's family greeted him. Naidu, who served as the chief minister for nearly a decade (1995-2004), began his political career in the Congress party and served as a minister in early 1980s and married thespian N.T. Rama Rao's daughter. He later joined the TDP floated by his legendary father-in-law in 1982. Unhappy with the interference of NTR's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi in party and government affairs, Naidu unseated him from power in August 1995 and became the chief minister. NTR, who had accused Naidu of back-stabbing him, died in January 1996. Naidu later firmed up his position, and came to be known as the CEO of Andhra Pradesh for introducing reforms in administration and for his pro-industry image.
======================================================