Telugu Desam Party: Difference between revisions
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Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He stepped down as Chief Minister after being defeated by the Congress in the May 2004 polls. Ironically, he retained the seat in his own constituency. |
Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He stepped down as Chief Minister after being defeated by the Congress in the May 2004 polls. Ironically, he retained the seat in his own constituency. |
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The party, though not a part of the |
The party, though not a part of the [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]], lent support to the BJP led coalition from the outside. However, the party was completely thrown out of power in 2004 general elections. Chandrababu Naidu resigned after 9 straight years as the chief minister of the state. |
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The party was completely thrown out of power in 2004 general elections. Chandrababu Naidu resigned after 9 straight years as the chief minister of the state. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 03:34, 14 February 2005
Telugu Desam Party (Party for Telugu Land) or TDP is a regional political party in Andhra Pradesh state of India founded by former Telugu film star N.T. Rama Rao on 29 March 1982. N.T. Rama Rao wanted a formidable alternative to the ruling Congress Party in the state. As an outcome of this effort, he established this party, embraced Sanyasa and vowed himself to Telugu people and Telugu land and ultimately to rejuvenate Telugu pride.
In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it was the 4th largest party with 29 members.
TDP's Party Symbol
NTR's era
N.T. Rama Rao toured Andhra extensively in Chaitanya Ratham (literally - a Chariot which spreads energy), his "election vehicle", and made use of the immense popularity of his on-screen movie image to win the next elections. The party was voted to power in a record nine months after its establishment. TDP also won more than 35 (out of 40) Lok Sabha seats in the 1984 Indian Elections. This made TDP the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha as Congress won more than 400 (out of 500 odd) seats in that election.
However, TDP was voted out of power in state in 1988. During his first tenure, N.T. Rama Rao introduced many populist measures like selling 1 kg of rice for Rs.2 etc.
Between 1988 and 1993, N.T. Rama Rao gave up his sanyasa and married a part-time journalist and student of political history, Lakshmi Parvati. In this period, he also played a significant role in national politics by pledging support to the then prime Ministers V.P. Singh and Chandra Sekhar (who formed coalition governments in the absence of absolute majority for their respective parties).
TDP rebounded back into power in 1993. N.T. Rama Rao was elected to be the Chief Minister for the second time. But his governing cabinet and his family suffered under what many political observers saw, as "unconstitutional interference in affairs" by his new wife Lakshmi Parvati. In 1995, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, finance minister and the son-in-law of NTR (who is married to NTR's daughter through his first wife) over threw N.T. Rama Rao's government by gathering a consensus of majority MLAs. The overwhelming consensus against his party, led to the recognition of the break-away faction by the Election Commission under the original name. NTR the founder-member, ironically had to rename what was left of his party as "NTR TDP". He vowed to go to the people, seeking a fresh mandate after this humiliation. However, within a year, NTR died of natural causes.
Naidu's era
After the demise of N.T. Rama Rao in 1996, Lakshmi Parvati split the minority party again in face of other opponents claiming inheritance, but the infighting, fragmentation and the lack of a charismatic figure like NTR to lead them, led to all such outfits to face political oblivion in the subsequent elections. Chandrababu Naidu remained the leader of the majority faction, now recognised as the official "Telugu Desam". The party also managed to retain their election symbol, "Cycle".
Chandrababu Naidu, considered one of the most dynamic political leaders in India, has publicly expressed his visions to put Hyderabad and the state on the global map by 2020. He wants to make Andhra Pradesh what he calls Swarnaandhra Pradesh. (Golden Andhra Pradesh).
TDP thus became the first political party in India that issued a Vision 2020 document, which foresees an Andhra Pradesh where poverty is eradicated; where every citizen has access to not just the basic necessities but to all opportunities that will help him lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He stepped down as Chief Minister after being defeated by the Congress in the May 2004 polls. Ironically, he retained the seat in his own constituency.
The party, though not a part of the NDA, lent support to the BJP led coalition from the outside. However, the party was completely thrown out of power in 2004 general elections. Chandrababu Naidu resigned after 9 straight years as the chief minister of the state.