International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023;
, Research scholar, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
Indian political system, power struggle,
infrastructural initiatives. These included construction of highways and The emergence of the Telugu Desam bridges in the city of Hyderabad. The Party (TDP) brought radical changes to government also made huge investment the structure of politics in Andhra for technical enhancement of Pradesh and in the Indian political Hyderabad and developed it into IT system. Increasing dissatisfaction hub, providing jobs not only to the among the people towards the Congress youth in Andhra Pradesh but also style of functioning provided a fertile providing opportunities for people from ground for the establishment and other states. The Telugu Desam party power struggle of the TDP in Andhra has helped all-round development of Pradesh. The Telugu Desam party the farmers through giving loans at emerged as a strong regional political minimum interest, electrification of the party in the state of Andhra Pradesh. rural areas and providing low-priced In its political journey, it had political water facilities and utmost struggle for its survival. It had great technological modernism to improve achievements and debacles. The TDP in the agricultural wealth in the state. its government power worked for Through the National Public people and made development in the Distribution System, TDP distributed state of Andhra Pradesh in terms of the cheap rice to Below Poverty Line
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; families in the state of Andhra Pradesh. elections in 2014, the Telugu Desam Other essential commodities in the party had political alliance with the BJP families have been provided at and it formed the government in the subsidized rates by the party. Party has new State of Andhra Pradesh, i.e., done a lot for women empowerment . with 50% reservation for women in elected and constitutional bodies. The Telugu Desam party as established by N.T.Ramarao made commitment to protect the self-respect of Telugus and stated to guarantee to provide food, shelter and clothing to Telugu Desam party was them at reasonable price and established by N .T. Ramarao in 1982. accomplish endorsement of ladies, youth The launching of a new political party and backward sections of society in on March 29, 1982 by the sixty-year-old Andhra Pradesh. Since its inception, the matinee idol N.T.Rama Rao heralded a Telugu Desam party also claimed that it new era in the State politics. This attempted to accomplish a unified and regional party was not born out of any executable synchronization with all sustained movement or struggle, like non-congress opposition parties within that of Akali Dal in Punjab or National the state and likewise within the nation. Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, or The TDP made efforts to safeguard any sustained social movement like the economic system and do power reforms DMK in Tamil Nadu. Instead, the TDP within the country and originated in Andhra Pradesh politics succeeded in majority of program with World Bank its power struggle due to substantial aid to develop talented work force to anti-Congress opposition in the electoral benefit people. NT Rama Rao the fray. To the dismay of the Congress founder leader of the TDP, as it is often leadership, in the elections to the felt, promoted overall respect for Telugu Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly th culture, literature and Language and held on 5 January 1983 the Telugu the welfare of the Telugu people. After Desam Party won a landslide victory the exit of N.T. Rama Rao from the securing 202 seats in a house of 294. political scene of Andhra Pradesh The Congress Party led by Mrs. Indira (1995), the Telugu Desam Party under Gandhi could secure only 60 seats. the leadership of N. Chandrababu Thus, the General Elections, 1983 held Naidu has been engaged in the onerous to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative task of shaping a progressive and Assembly gave a new turn to Indian sustainable political order. It is not an politics and power struggle. Nara easy and simple process, specially in the Chandrababu Naidu is leading the party context of (a) the pulls and pressures of in Andhra Pradesh. The headquarters electoral politics, and (b) the limited of Telugu Desam party is situated at resources and authority of State N.T.R. Bhavan in the Banjara Hills Governments, and impingement of die locality of Hyderabad. The Telugu policies of the Union Government on Desam party formed the government in tire States in the federal polity of India. Andhra Pradesh twice, from 1983-1989 and from 1994-2004. For general
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023;
Government land to the landless poor; After the formation of the Implementing for Telugu Desam Party, N T Rama Rao the upliftment of backward classes, stated many a time that he came to through District gutal Development politics neither for power nor for money, Agency, Integrated Tribal Development prestige and status. N.T.Rama Rao Agency, Schedule Cast, Schedule Tribe, emphasized that the Self-respect of the and Backward Classes Corporations; Andhra people was threatened by the Implementing special welfare schemes Congress (I). He promised people to lor weavers fishermen and rickshaw protect the pullers; administration to be aimed at ‘(Telugu People’s Self- the welfare of the people; the use of respect) and to provide an honest Telugu as the official language at all government. The first levels of administration; development of (General Conference) of the party cottage and small scale industries; workers and a public meeting was held Implementation of National programme at Nizam College grounds in Hyderabad for rural development and employment on April 11, 1982, Later Telugu Desam schemes.; supply of seeds and fertilizers conducted the at various to fanners, inauguration of minor places like Vijayawada and Tirupathi. irrigation projects and rural the prosperous caste men saw in electrification; special welfare schemes the Telugu Desam, a hope for for women and for the youth. to become the Chief Minister of Andhra Chandrababu Naidu who Pradesh. The electorate by the time was assumed the TDP leadership after also in search of an alternative and a N.T.Ramarao, has a firm conviction leader who can bail out the State from that performance and institutional the Congress culture with rampant competence of the Government is a key factionalism and ubiquitous corruption factor for political stability and social and the political instability into which progress.. In fact, such heavy reliance the Congress leaders had dragged the on the performance of an efficient, people of the State for several Decades. honest, and responsive bureaucratic He promised a clean government and system is the reverse of charismatic urged the people to reject the politics of N.T. Rama Rao. Further, 'degenerated' Congress leaders seeking Naidu had the compulsive necessity to to reap fruits in the name of its glorious make himself and the Government past. The press projected him as savior visible and helpful to the people to of the people. consolidate his position, soon after he At the time of launching of Telugu assumed the office of Chief-Ministership Desam Party, N.T.Rama Rao of the State. Perhaps the character of announced a 13-point programme. They Telugu Desam Party, which is a mass were said to be the objectives of the based and leader centred party, is TDP. These objectives include providing another factor to be noted in this drinking water facility to all people: connection. An active and responsive providing rice for the poor, at a price of government to solve the problems of Rs. 2/- per kg; implementing mid-day people is a corollary of democratic meal scheme for school children; political system, and is an essential Distribution of surplus and instrument for promotion of social and
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; economic development. The series of the age of retirement also faced the Tele-conferences of the Chief-Minister wrath of the Non -Gazetted Officers in with the district collectors, and the the State. For these and other reasons, conferences with the staff of Secretariat the first crisis to the party came within are also helpful aids to the process. An a year. It experienced a vertical split on attempt has been made in the early August 16, 1984. The elections were stage to take the administrative order to held to the State Assembly in January the door- step of people. This idea and 1985. The mid-term election of 1985 process has been well defined and gave a clear mandate to N.T.Rama Rao institutionalized, and implemented in and his allies who won 236 out of 294 the Janmabhoomi programme. The aim seats. This time N.T.Rama Rao is simply to make the administrative continued the seat adjustment with the system visible and close, responsive and non-Congress (I) oppositions. In these accountable, and transparent and fair or elections the Telugu Desam Party got equitable to all sections of people. The 202 seats out of 249 seats for which it application of computer technology in contested. carrying out administrative work is : directed to achieve speedy and effective : public service. The State is said to be a After the 1985 elections, the Telugu trend setter for others in electronic Desam Party under the leadership 0f governance. Electronic governance N.T.Rama Rao introduced became a useful device and gained the administrative and the subsequent confidence of the public. A lot more political changes. These had a far- remains to be done to deal with reaching impact on state administration corruption and authoritarian spirit, and politics. The Mandal system was which are deeply entrenched in the introduced in the place of Samithis and system. Chandra Babu Naidu taluks, which were replaced by the introduced some new schemes during Mandals. The system of direct election his second tenure apart from continuing to Zillah Parisian! Chairman and the above mentioned schemes to Mandal President were introduced. The consolidate the power structure of the system of reservation to TDP government. Classes and Women was also introduced by the Telugu Desam Party. Another feature to election to local bodies was that the elections are to be held on The Telugu Desam Party party basis. With the introduction of captured power in Andhra Pradesh in these changes, new social groups such January 1983 Assembly elections. as backward classes and women and N.T.Rama Rao first year in office was youth got the chance to share the power marked by a number of far reaching at the grassroots level. On par with the changes in the administrative set-up. rural local bodies, changes were He abolished the posts of Karnams and introduced with regard to the urban Munsiffs in Andhra region, and the local bodies in the 1987 elections held to Patel and Patwari set-up in the the local bodies. Direct election was also Telangana districts. His initiation of introduced to the post of Municipal anti-corruption acts and his approach to Chairman. Out of 1104 Mandals and 23
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023;
Zillah Praja Parishad elections, the policies introduced by his immediate elections were held to 1058 Mandals and predecessor, NTR. The dissident leaders 22 Zillah Parishads. The Telugu Desam within Congress (I) party in the state Party captured 632 Mandals and 19 reported to their high command about Zillah Parishads by securing 51, 37 misrule of Chenna Reddy. So, he was percent of votes. The election proved a replaced by N.Janardhan Reddy who serious setback to the Indian National took certain unpopular decisions like, Congress which hither to enjoyed total enhancing the subsidy rice rate from dominance over the local bodies. The Rs.2 to Rs.3.50, enhancement of Telugu Desam Party now occupied the electricity charges of farmers from position of dominance in the state Rs.50 to Rs.150 etc. Besides he also politics. Another important outcome of made futile attempts to destabilize TDP this election was the shifting of power legislature party. NTR started his from upper castes to backward castes campaign against misrule of Congress women and youth for the first time after Chief Minister. Mean time mid-term the formation of the Raj elections to Lok Sabha were held in May bodies in 1959. 1991. During this elections campaign, In January 1986, N.T.Rama Rao Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. The assembled national opposition leaders at assassination evoked strong protest all wherein leaders of 13 parties over India. In this Lok Sabha elections, issued a statement criticizing the TDP bagged 13 seats, in spite of Congress leadership. The meeting led to sympathy waves in favor on Congress the formation of the National People Party. Front (NPF). The National Front Government came to power in the 1989 Meantime, interesting General Elections held to Lok Sabha. developments took place in the personal V.P.Singh became the Prime Minister. life of NTR. The biographer of NTR, However, the TDP under the leadership Smt. Lakshmi Parvathi came closer to of N.T.Rama Rao suffered a setback in NTR. The free interactions between Andhra Pradesh, as the Indian National them led to their marriage. NTR Congress was successful in the State married Lakshmi Parvathi on level Assembly Elections, which were September 11, 1993. The marriage held simultaneously, defeated Telugu became the fundamental cause for the Desam. During the period of 1985-89, split in TDP in 1995. Soon after her the Congress regained its lost ground by marriage, Lakshmi Parvathi entered attacking the functioning of the TDP into politics, to help her better half. In and its leader N.T.Rama Rao. 1994 election, she played crucial role in After his defeat in 1989 Assembly selection of candidates to Assembly. She elections, NTR coordinated the also actively participated in several formation of National Front party meetings. On the other hand Government at Centre. But leaders of N.Janardhan Reddy the Chief Minister national parties did not give due of Andhra Pradesh, due to dissident recognition to NTR. Dr. M.Chenna politics within the party, failed to Reddy was sworn in as Chief Minister of provide clean administration to the Andhra Pradesh on December 3, 1989. people and similarly Kotla Vijay The new Chief Minister abolished all Bhaskar Reddy who succeeded
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N.Janardhan Reddy could not provide allies won the 2004 elections and the an administration which was Telugu Desam Party witnessed the appreciated by the people. Under these crushing defeat. circumstances elections to the State Legislative Assembly were held in 1994. Nevertheless, the TDP emerges as the main gainer in 2009 Assembly The 1994 Assembly elections restored elections. the Telugu Desam Party to power once again. Out of the total of 294 seats in In the 2009 Andhra Pradesh A.P, Assembly elections were held for Assembly election, the Congress had 292 seats in two phases on December 1 taken the lead, winning 156 of the 294 and December 5, 1994 and elections for seats in the Assembly. As the leader of two seats were countermanded due to the Congress Legislature Party, Y.S. the death of contesting candidates. In Rajasekhara Reddy was invited to form 1994 Assembly Elections in Andhra the Government by the Governor. Pradesh, the Congress (I), contested to Unexpectedly, the Government lasted all the 292 constituencies, and secured for 4 years 9 months and the president only 26 seats. In a way the 1994 rule was imposed later. The Election elections signified a repeat performance Commission of India (ECI) decided to of TDP in 1983 andl985 elections. hold the Assembly elections along with the general election. The election in N.T.Ramarao as the leader of the TDP each Assembly constituency (AC) was became a victim of the second political held in the same phase as the election to crisis, in which the people had no role to the corresponding Parliamentary play. N.T.Ramarao was embroiled in a constituency that the AC falls under. struggle for power between Nara On 3 October 2013, the Union Cabinet Chandrababu Naidu, his second son-in- of India approved the creation of the law, and Lakshmi Parvathi, whom he new State of Telangana. The new state married in his 70th year. N.T.Ramarao of Telangana was carved out from was defeated by his own family Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014. members in a prolonged struggle in the The 2014 General Election was the last TDP and its government. On September election that a united Andhra Pradesh 1, 1995, Chandrababu Naidu was sworn took part in, as the state was bifurcated in as the new Chief Minister. He won into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana his vote of confidence in the Assembly states less than a month after the polls. on September 7, 1995. He continued in In 2014, in Andhra Pradesh there are 25 office for 9 years as the Chief Minister Lok Sabha constituencies, as Andhra of Andhra Pradesh upto May 2004, Pradesh (Total 42 seats) was bifurcated when TDP lost power in 2004 A.P. into Telangana (17 seats) and Andhra Assembly elections. In the 2004 Pradesh (25 seats) states. Assembly Elections, the Telugu Desam In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Party and its ally the Bharatiya Janata Assembly election, the Telugu Desam Party contested for 267 and 147 seats Party led by former chief minister and respectively. The Telugu Desam Party opposition leader N. Chandrababu won 47 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Naidu emerged as the single largest Party won 2 seats. The Congress and its party with 117 seats while 88 were
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; required for majority. Besides many Reddy and Jana Sena Party headed by factors, Narendra Modi and Pawan actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan factors helped the TDP Kalyan are considered to be the main consolidate its political base, The contestants in the e promise of waiver of farm loans by the TDP has proved to be a big hit with the people of Andhra region. Meaningful The Telugu Desam Party emerged as a dialogue on several issues in numerous regional political party in Andhra politburo meetings strategized the Pradesh by challenging the misrule of party’s way forward for the TDP. Naidu the ruling Congress (I) party in the was invited to form the government as state. Since its inception in 1982, the part of the fourteenth Andhra Pradesh party bitterly criticized the policies and Assembly by Governor of Andhra programmes of Congress (I) party. The Pradesh and Telangana E. S. L. Telugu Desam Party repeatedly Narasimhan. It was the first Assembly criticized that the state Congress (I) in Andhra Pradesh after leaders were mortgaging the Telugu the bifurcation of the State into Andhra pride in the streets of New Delhi, in the Pradesh and Telangana. And the TDP name of high command. The sudden has been proving its metal. TDP's dismissal of the N.T.Ramarao’s TDP withdrawal from the National Government in 1984 proved that the Democratic Alliance in March ruling Congress (I) at the centre was 2018 following the disputes between the showing hatred and envy towards the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Telugu Desam Party in the state. So, Party (BJP) regarding the Special N.T.Ramarao took active interest to Category Status (SCS), a part of weaken the popularity of Congress (I) the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Party not only in the state but also in Act, 2014 has resulted in competition India. To this end he developed between the two parties – the TDP and friendship with non-Congress (I) parties the BJP. Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy has at national level and brought them on to been campaigning in the state since single platform at the centre to defeat November 2017. Meanwhile, Pawan Congress (I) party in 1989 elections. Kalyan's JSP had been gaining NTR was chastened by the August 1984 significant support political crisis and the next five years of in Uttarandhra (North Coastal Andhra his term as Chief Minister was marked Pradesh). by a constant fight with the Congress (I) Assembly Elections are due to be held Government at the Centre, and with in Andhra Pradesh in April or May 2019 Congress (I) leaders in the State. NTR to constitute the fifteenth Legislative concentrated on building up a national Assembly. These elections are to be held alternative to the Congress (I). Since its concurrently with the Indian general formation in 1983, the TDP has been election, 2019. The incumbent Telugu demanding for more regional autonomy Desam Party headed by the chief and has been struggling hard to retain minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, its power. Chandrababu Naidu followed the YSR Congress Party headed by the TDP leader N.T.Ramarao. Naidu opposition leader Y. S. Jaganmohan rose to the occasion and played a
International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-6, June, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; significant role in National Politics. He Politics, Sterling Publishers Private soon became a prominent leader in Limited, New Delhi, 1994 United Front and was unanimously 3) Rao, P.R., chosen the Convener of United Front. Mittal publications, In the power game politics, Naidu had New Delhi, 1991. succeeded in winning the hands of the 4) Rajendra Prasad, R.J., top political leaders and remained a Emergence of Telugu Desam and an national figure with his rare virtue of Overview of Political Movements in political diplomacy. Naidu rose to the Andhra, Master Minds, Academic Press, National level by sheer political Hyderabad, 2004. intellectual prodigious efforts. The TDP 5) Sadhana Sharma, in its new avatar in the hands of N. Mittal Publications, Chandrababu Naidu has been Delhi, 1995, endeavoring to shape a new political 6) Suri, K.C., “Telugu Desam order in the State despite its struggle Party”, in Peter Ronald D’Souza, for power. E.Sridharan (Ed.), Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2006. 7) Suri, K.C., “Andhra Pradesh: 1) Atul Kohli, “The NTR Setback for the TDP in Panchayat Phenomenon in Andhra Pradesh: Elections”, Political Change in South Indian Vol. 36, No.41, 2001. States”, Vol 8) Venkateswarlu, K., No. Andhra 2) Prasanna Kumar, A., (Ed) University, Waltair. Andhra Pradesh Government and