Chandrababu Naidu views on N.T. Rama Rao

N.T. Rama Rao is still an Icon in the Andhra Pradesh. In the CNN-IBN Poll, he was selected as greatest Telugu person by Andhra People. NTR is still revered as God by his followers. N.T. Rama Rao changed the political situation in Andhra Pradesh by forming Telugu Desam Party.

Views of Nara Chandrababu Naidu on NTR:

1. N.T.R was a much disciplined person. He used to wake up at 3 a.m., and did yoga for one hour. I used to visit him at 4.30 a.m., early in the morning, to discuss about the party affairs and also the matters regarding administration. On any day, if I failed to visit him, he used to phone me at that time and asked me to come over there at once for discussion.

2. The first time I met N.T.R While he was in a cinema shooting. At that time I was minister of cinematography in A.P. govt. N.T.R. came out from the shooting and talked to me for a long time.

3. N.T.R used to call me as “Babu”. He showed much affection towards me.

4. N.T.Rama Rao’s personality was extraordinary. He never showed laziness. If he wished to do anything he would not take rest until he achieves that thing. He was having good creativeness.

5. He always had soft corner towards the poor.

6. He was usually emotional and often not listen to others opinion.

7. The only thing which I did not like in N.T.R is that his nature of taking hasty decisions. He did not take much time to think over any problem. Some times I used to differ with him and left the place. Immediately I received a phone call from N.T.R.

8. Over all, N.T.R. was a good person. People of Andhra were of the opinion that N.T.R will not do any mistake. Such was his personality. His individuality was very great. He was tall and very handsome.

Can we see another NTR (of his stature) in our lifetime? May be not.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) - Silver Jubilee year (1982-2007)

Telugu Desam Party successfully completed 25 years of political life. It was founded by N.T.Ramarao (NTR) to change the political scenario in Andhra Pradesh. He came to power within 9 months of Telugu Desam inception. He successfully defeated Congress party which is in power since 1952.

Major incidents in Telugu Desam history:

1. October 1981: NTR announced his intention to dedicate himself to serve the Telugu people for 15 days in a month since his 60th birthday. This was happened in “Sardar Paparaidu” film shooting. NTR got his inspiration to serve people from Hindu spiritual guru Swami Vivekananda.

2. March 28, 1982: NT Ramarao formed officially a political steering committee of 13 members.

3. March 29, 1982: NTR announced the formation of Telugu Desam Party at 2:30 PM as he was a strong believer of Astrology.

4. April11, 1982: First public meeting of Telugu Desam Party was held in Hyderabad at Nizam Collage Grounds. More than 80,000 people attended to that meeting which was never happened in Andhra politics. Main supported to NTR is Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, an ex-congress minister.

5. May 27-29, 1982: First “Mahanadu” (Party’s annual meeting) was held in Tirupati. It was a grand success. Lakhs of people from all over the Andhra Pradesh attended to that party meeting.

6. NTR extensively campaigned for the 1983 elections for 9 months from May 1982 to January3, 1983. He ended his campaign in Tirupati where the first meeting was held.

7. January 5, 1983: It was the polling day for the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

8. Assembly Results: Telugu Desam won 203 seats while Congress won 60 seats. Other parties won in 30 constituencies.

9. NTR became the first non-congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

10. He gave importance to 3 things in political or personal life:

A. Morality
B. Honesty
C. Discipline.

August Turmoil:

11. June 9, 1984: NT Ramarao went to America for a health check-up and was diagnosed as suffering from Heart disease. He returned to India and went back to United stated in August. He was operated (by-pass surgery) by famous surgeon Dr. Dental Coolie. He returned to India on August 14, 1984.

12. During this period, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao revolted against NTR and Telugu Desam was in disarray due to politics in the party.

13. August 16, 1984: Ramlal, Andhra Governor, dismissed the Telugu Desam government and invited Nadendla to sworn in as Chief Minister.

14. Public rebelled against these events and observed strikes and agitations in support of NTR dismissal.

15. As situation worsened in the state, the central government recalled Ramlal and sent Sankardayal Sarma as new governor of Andhra Pradesh.

16. September 20, 1984: NTR proved his majority and again became Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. This was a unbelievable incident at that time.

17. NTR sent a letter to the governor recommending the dissolution of the Assembly.

18. Telugu Desam won 35 Loksabha seats in the Parliament elections while Congress swept the polls all over the country due to sentiment caused by Indira Gandhi’s death.

19. March 9, 1985: NTR became the chief minister for the third time after winning 1985 assembly elections. TDP won in 202 assembly constituencies.

20. NT Ramarao formed the National front to unite the opposition parties at the national level.

21. 1989 Assembly elections: Telugu Desam lost these elections and Congress came to power.

22. September 11, 1993: NTR married Laxmiparvathi.

23. 1994 Assembly Elections: Telugu Desam came to power by winning 213 assembly elections while Congress got just 26 seats. NTR sworn in as Chief Minister for the fourth time and as 12th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

24. Troubles started in TDP and party divided into two factions.

A. NTR TDP - NTR faction.
B. Official TDP - Chandrababu faction.

25. September 1, 1995: N. Chandrababu Naidu sworn in as 13th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

26. 1999 Assembly Elections: Telugu Desam won the elections and Chandrababu sworn in as chief Minister for the second time.

27. 2004 Assembly Elections: Congress party came to power by defeating Telugu Desam.

28. NT Ramarao tenure as Chief Minister was 7 ½ years.

29. Chandrababu tenure as Chief Minister was 9 years.

Emergence of Telugu Desam is a significant change in Andhra Pradesh politics. NTR was the only leader in national politics who can match Indira Gandhi in attracting people.

Please comment on this article.

NTR in the WEEK magazine's list of 25 street fighters

The WEEK magazine included Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) as street fighter in its Republic Day special. The magazine listed 25 great street fighters from all over India. L.K.Advani of BJP, Mamata Banarjee of Trinamool Congress, Spiritual Guru Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar, VHP president Ashok Singhal and Revolutionary Singer Gaddar are other eminent personalities in the list.

Highlights of the Article:

• He was an actor for many years, before he joined politics by launching Telugu Desam Party 1982.
• His famous slogan is "Arise, awaken, the Telugu nation is calling". He was inspired by Swami Vivekananda.
• His political philosophy was based on the self respect of the Telugu People.
• Theatricality was NTR's hallmark.
• NTR became the chief minister of Andhra pradesh in 1983 just with in the 9 months of Telugu Desam party formation.
• His mentor is MGR (Tamilnadu chief minister at that time) in politics.
• NT Rama Rao announced many populist schemes like Rs.2 per Kg of rice.
• He is the only political leader who can match Indira Gandhi in charisma.
• He believed that society was his temple and the poor man, the GOD in it.
• NTR was never charged with corruption. He did not allow anyone to make money on the files he signed.
• NTR died in 1996 at the age of 73.

We may never see a political personality like NT Rama Rao in the Andhra politics.

N.T.Rama Rao: The legend

N.T.Ramarao, Founder of Telugu Desam Party, was selected as “Greatest person of Andhra Pradesh” in the CNN-IBN Poll. Why people love him even 10 years after his death. That lies in his personality. He has an attractive personality. He was a very hard working and disciplined man. He can inspire people and can able to turn ordinary people into extra ordinary personalities. He believes in dignity and self respect. He has the ability to form an emotional attachment with voters.

He likes honest people and never tolerated cunning people. He never gives shelter to dishonest people.

People honor him in such a way, even if he commits a mistake, people think that the mistake was done by his followers. They treated him just like a God. His mythological roles helped him in that aspect.

Telugu cine film industry elders still talk about his discipline. He used to say that his life was an ocean.

With his strong personality and inspiring speeches, He defeated congress party with in 9 months of party formation. He was the only leader who matched Indira Gandhi in chrishma.

We may never see such a great man in Andhra Politics.

His daily life schedule:

2-30 AM: Wake up.
2-30 to 4-30 AM: Yogasanas, exercise, worship of God.
5-oo AM: He was ready for shooting.

In the beginning, he used to smoke 2 cigars daily. He got rid of that bad habit. He never took alcohol.
I can’t understand why he took bad steps in the last stage of his glittering career.