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.

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Highlights of Hindu Editor interview in Eenadu telugu daily

Eenadu, Andhra Pradesh news daily, today published interview with Hindu daily editor N.Ram. Excerpts of his views on Margadarsi Chits, Eenadu, Media and Andhra congress government.

• Andhra government is trying to attack the freedom of media.


• Eenadu is third largest read daily in India. So, attack on Eenadu is a national issue.


• Congress government is attacking the financial resources of Eenadu and ETV.
  
• I have talked to RBI sources. They said that there is nothing wrong with the Margadarsi chits.


• Governments never succeed in their attacks on the media. Ex. Emergency in 1977. Voters always rejected such governments.


• Eenadu wonderfully investigated and published the corruption in the congress government.
  
• Eenadu unearthed almost 30 scams.


• Ramoji Rao bravely said in his editorial as Eenadu is the main opposition .


• Hindu stands behind Eenadu in this episode. Government should learn to respect fourth estate i.e; media.


• Congress government is trying to divide and rule the media. Othe media institutions should not fell in this trap . They will face the same fate in the future.


• Margadarsi has good track record. No investor complained against Margadarsi.


• Eenadu stood behind The hindu daily when it faced the same threat in Tamilanadu.


• I believe in judiciary. Courts always do justice.


• Even Telugu Desam government faced the same problems during YSR's "PADAYATRA."


• Congress high command should not take this issue lightly. It should instruct its Andhra government with proper guidance.


• We will stand behind Eenadu and protect the freedom of Media.

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Telugu Desam Analysis on Karimnagar Elections

Telugu Desam Party is hoping to win Karimnagar by elections with this analysis:

Total Votes : 14 Lakh voters

Polled Votes : 9 Lakh (estimation)

Congress : 2-2.5 Lakh permanent votes

BJP : 1 Lakh permanent votes

TRS : 2.5-3 Lakh Volatile votes

So, TDP will get remaining 3 lakh votes. As per Telugudesam sources, Contest is mainly between Telugu Desam and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

Expecting Majority : 25,000-40,000. Official Results will be announced on December 6,2006.

Karimnagar Loksabha constituency is located in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.

Please share your opinion.