Hyderabad: With the first phase of polling coinciding with his birthday, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who turned 55 today (Apr 20, 2004), sought a resounding mandate from voters as a birthday gift to help him realise his goal of 'Swarnandhra Pradesh'.

"For the last nine years, I have been striving hard to develop the State in all sectors. There can be no better gift from people on my birthday than a fresh mandate for my party," Naidu said shortly after casting his vote at a polling booth in Khairatabad area in the city.

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Accompanied by his wife Bhuvaneshwari, the Chief Minister went to the polling booth and exercised his franchise.

Later talking to reporters, Naidu exuded confidence that people would again repose faith in his party in the interest of continuing the development.

Asked about the impact of Telangana Statehood issue on the elections, Naidu said, "It is not the sentiment but development that matters for people. They want an improvement in their living standards and will vote for parties who deliver goods."

Earlier in the day, he offered prayers at Tirumala temple before returning to the city to cast his vote. It was at Tirumala foothills in October last year that the Chief Minister had become a target of naxalite attack.

Naidu, who had opted for early Assembly elections sought to invoke sympathy card in the wake of the attack saying, "On my first birthday after the 're-birth', I seek a stronger mandate from people to help me re-dedicate my life for their welfare."