The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a well-known political party in Andhra Pradesh. It was founded on March 29, 1982, by Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), a famous actor. NTR started the party to fight for Telugu people’s rights and to give them a strong political voice. In 1983, TDP won the elections, and NTR became the Chief Minister. He brought many welfare schemes, including subsidized rice for low-income families and various programs to support women. He also focused on the development of villages and strengthening local governance.
In 1995, there was a major political crisis within TDP. After his return to power in 1994, NTR’s second wife, Lakshmi Parvathi, started playing an active role in party affairs. Many senior TDP leaders felt that she was influencing NTR’s decisions and sidelining them. This created dissatisfaction among party members, leading to a revolt led by Chandrababu Naidu, NTR’s son-in-law.
The political drama unfolded at Viceroy Hotel in Hyderabad, where Naidu gathered a majority of TDP MLAs. They expressed no confidence in NTR’s leadership, forcing him out of power. NTR tried to fight back, but most of his party members had already shifted loyalty to Naidu. This internal coup resulted in Chandrababu Naidu taking over as TDP chief and becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Unfortunately, this betrayal deeply hurt NTR. In a tragic turn of events, just a few months later, he passed away in January 1996 due to a heart attack. During his last days, he faced humiliation, including an ugly public incident where he was attacked with chappals by some angry individuals who were influenced by the ongoing political tensions.
Naidu’s leadership took TDP in a new direction. He focused on technology, IT development, and modern governance. He helped Hyderabad grow into an IT hub, bringing big companies to the city. His leadership style was different from NTR’s, as he focused more on economic growth and urban development.
TDP remained strong in state politics and was also a part of the central government through alliances. However, in 2004, the party lost elections because many farmers and rural people were unhappy. After being in opposition for 10 years, TDP came back to power in 2014, after the state was split into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Naidu became the Chief Minister again and worked on building a new capital, Amaravati. But in 2019, TDP lost the elections to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The 2024 elections changed everything for TDP. Along with its allies, Jana Sena Party and BJP, TDP won a landslide victory. People were unhappy with the previous government and wanted change. The new government promised development, jobs, and better governance. Chandrababu Naidu became the Chief Minister again, and TDP got a second chance to improve the state.
Now, many people are wondering about the future of TDP. While Naidu is still the leader, his son Nara Lokesh is also becoming an important face of the party. He has been working closely with young people and focusing on technology in governance. As the party moves forward, its success will depend on how well it delivers on its promises and keeps the trust of the people.
TDP has been a key player in Andhra Pradesh for 43 years. From NTR’s strong leadership to Naidu’s modern approach, the party has seen many ups and downs. With its big win in 2024, TDP now has a chance to bring real progress to the state and prove Itself once again.
