The Birth of Telugu Desam Party
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99 CHAPTER- V EMERGENCE OFllELUIGyj DESAM PARTY IN ANDI«5«*RADESH Introduction of Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh is a politically significant state in South India. The economy of the state is primarily based on agriculture. Agriculture yields 48.8 per cent of its total income. Cultivable area grew from 10 lakh hectares in 1956 to 21 lakh hectares in 1990. Its per capita income was Rs.4506 in 1992. Andhra Pradesh is the biggest producer of rice in the country and it is referred as 'the granary of South India". In the National food production Andhra Pradesh claimed a share of 39.7 per cent. THE BIRTH OF TELUGU DESAM PARTY Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Popularly known as "N.T.Rama Rao" was greatly respected and idolized as a mythical cine hero by the Telugu speaking people. He was bom in a small village "Nimmakuru in Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh. N.T.Rama Rao the Matinee idol of Telugu celluloid Super Star. People call him 'NTR". After making 300 movies in various South Indian languages, he decided to test his destiny in politics without having any political experience. In 1982 he surprised his fans associations by stating that he would like to enter the politics. At the same time Tamil super star M.G. Rama Chandran was ruling the roost in Tamil Nadu. Probably that might have inspired him to start a new regional party. Some prominent people and political leaders were also said to be consulted NTR to start a regional Party. "NTR's entry into politics was quite astonishing. In October 1981 when he was in a film entitled "Sardar Paparayudu" being shot at Ooty (Tamil Nadu), a group of journalists casually asked NTR "you will be entering in 60''^ year very soon, all your life you have been working for the films, 'do you have any plans to do 1>^'\322>3 100 anything by way of service to the people who have patronized you all these years?" Mr. Rama Rao did not expect such a question; He recovered after a few movements and said "yes the Telugu people have been kind to me for more than three decades and they have been supporting me and endearing me to their hearts. They have given me their affections, patronized my films, and made me rich and famous and brought me honour. It is my duty now to repay this debt in whatever the way I can. I would like to do something for them." He declared that he would like to spend fifteen days of a month in the service of the people; he said that he would start a non-political organisation and devote some time to social service. This news spread like a wild fire in Andhra Pradesh, the news papers, film magazines speculated the news that NTR was joining politics. Letters were poured into NTR's house form the 900 Fans Associations and well wishers welcoming his decision."''' On 21^' March 1982, NTR declared in a crowded press conference that he was entering public life by starting his own organization with its own manifesto and programme, his prime objective was to serve the people of the state as long as he had been an artist He also said that his organisation would be - non political one and it would not be opposed to Congress (I) since this would be purely confined to the state and would co- operate with whatever party that wields power at the centre. He declared that his ambition was to root out poverty and establish equality in all walks oflife"."- On 28'*' March 1982 NTR formed a steering committee consisting of 13 members. NTR was elected as the founder president of the organization. On 29' March'1982 at 2.30 in the afternoon NTR and his followers assembled in the New MLA Quarters. The followers of NTR began to shout ''Sri NTR Zindabad" there was an echo in the New MLA quarters. NTR started addressing the gathering "My dear brothers and sisters, I have been seriously considering the idea of entering into politics. I was wondering how people would react to this idea, when I see all of you here, it gives me immense '" I.Pratap Kumar, "The Rise of Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, A study on a Regional Party." (unpublished) M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to NISS,, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Pune 1994, P. 47&48. "-, lbidp48. 101 pleasure and from this moment onwards I am entering into politics". At the declaration of NTR the people in the gathering were greatly excited and they began to clap their hands with whistles. Someone from the gathering has asked "Sir, what is the name of your party?" NTR glanced around and said, "Disclosing the name of the party as Telugu Desam Party Rama Rao stuck, cinematic pose raising his right hand and pointing to the sky with his index finger to suggest that he is promising the very moon to his followers. NTR described the regional party as a people's movement to protect the self respect of Telugus." He also said "I am a bom Telugu; from today onwards I dedicate my life for the service and to protect the self-respect of the people. That's why our party's name is "Telugu Desam'". TDP proposed to be a social organization in the beginning, but in the very next week it started as a political party. Probably NTR did not want to start political organization initially because of his son-in-law Chandra Babu Naidu who was a Minister of Cinematography in the ruling Congress Government in the state then. However due to heavy pressure mounted from different quarters, "Millions of his fans and admirers pressed him to join in politics through letters and phones. At the same time one of the senior Congress (I) leaders Nadendla Bhasker Rao who was kicked off by the two Congress chief ministers Cherma Reddy and T. Anjayya from their cabinets conducted negotiations with NTR and asked him to form a Regional Party. NTR's well wishers Ramoji Rao, editor of prominent Telugu Daily newspaper 'Eenadu' also said to be backed the idea of starting of regional party. NTR even got blessings from the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and chief of AIADMK M.G.Rama Chandran and DMK leader and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi who liquidated Congress party's influence with cinematic image." Many of his followers and close associates had suggested him that you can serve better when political power is in your hands. So NTR at the zenith of his cinema career which brought him name and fame and immense popularity decided to launch a regional party on the lines of DMK and AIADMK in neighboring Tamil Nadu where he started his film career. '"Opicil.p.49. 102 Impact of TDP in Andhra Politics: The Telugu Desam Party has emerged as an alternative to the Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh. It has filled the political vacuum in the state. The Telugu Desam was funded in the state exactly at the right time when the people of Andhra Pradesh were eagerly waiting for a Good Samaritan to rescue them from undesirable conditions. N.T.Rama Rao had '^nchase^ the emotional tide of Telugus. Because people turned so emotional when they saw a celluloid god alive and talked to him. "N.T.Rama Rao said they were waiting for someone to concretize an emotional tie into a political movement. NTR said ""My task is to keep the new consciousness of Telugu people alive and to use it to bring about a new social and economic order Andhra Pradesh.""^" = NTR's entry into politics had enthused the common people and awakened the masses from the political ignorance. Since then the people started keenly observing the politics of Andhra Pradesh. Many People who liked politics started reading news papers. The masses of Andhra Pradesh had great hope on NTR and wholeheartedly supported him. NTR who played mythological roles as Ram and Krishna in various movies turned as a model to the devotees. People saw the incarnations of Ram and Krishna in NTR. By the time NTR decided to enter the politics. The political situation in the state was ripened with maladministration, rampant corruption, continues changing Chief Ministers due to factionalism and groupism in Congress. The people of Andhra Pradesh were fed up with dirty politics. He gave slogans of 'Telugu Pride' self respect of six crores people of Andhra {Aanikotla Andhrula Aatma Goiiravam) to attract the masses. \j The Congress Party lost a very important state which stood behind it to provide a stable government at the Centre until then. Its support aJways helped the Congress to form government at the Centre. Many of the senior leaders left Congress '"* India Today,31.05.1983, p 107. 'India Today,31.05.1983, p 107 103 and joined TDP. Congress lacked charismatic leadership in the state. After the entry of Telugu Desam all these smaller parties are vanished. Many of the leaders of these parties have either joined or merged their outfits in TDP. Sanjay Vichar Manch led by Menaka Gandhi supported NTR. It also had an electoral alliance in 1983 general elections to the state The Left parties were forced to have an electoral alliance with TDP for their existence. WHY ^^TELUGU DESAM^^? •'The word 'Telugu' is adopted with a view to imprint regional identity on the minds of the people. Rama Rao describes Telugu Desam Party is a regional party, it does not believe in separatism and the word "Desam" in its nomenclature should not rise any such doubts.