Telugu Desam Party completed 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.