NTR’s Epoch – Timeline

NTR’s Political Entry & Emergence of Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

1980
October 30
Sardar Paparayudu

The release of the film ‘Sardar Paparayudu’ was the immediate stimulus to get into politics to serve the Telugu people.

At a press conference in Ooty, NTR announced he would dedicate 15 days a month to serving the Telugu people.

1982
March 21
Political Entry of NTR

NTR announced his political entry at a press conference held at Ramakrishna Studios, Hyderabad.

1982
March 29
Started Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

NTR announced the name given to his party, ‘Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’, at New MLA Quarters in Hyderabad.

1982
April 10 & 11
First public meeting

NTR held the first public meeting of the Telugu Desam Party at Nizam College Ground, Hyderabad.

1982
May 27 & 28
Public meeting in Tirupati

NTR organised a public meeting in Tirupati attended by millions of people, which drew the entire country’s attention.

1982
June 14
First Political Campaign

NTR began his first political campaign to sensitise people, which marked many innovations.

  •  An old van refurbished called ‘Chaitanya Ratham’ was steered by his son Nandamuri Harikrishna covering thousands of kilometres incessantly.
  • NTR, clad in khaki costume, relentlessly travelled while addressing people en route till night every day and used to sleep underneath a tree on the roadside; the campaign lasted for 60 days.
  • The call given by NTR, “Telugu Desam beckons you, come over”, mesmerised and touched every Telugu person in the State.
1982
October 3
Second Political Campaign

NTR’s second campaign began and covered 25,000 km in 55 days till November 26, 1982.

1982
December 16
Third Political Campaign

NTR’s third campaign was marked by a unique feat of
addressing people continuously for 72 hours without food and rest, which signifies his dedication and determination.

1982
December 21
BBC praised NTR

 saying that “no one in the world has ever addressed so many people in such a short period and so many places”. It was the day the whole world knew about the Telugu community, and it was the proudest movement for the entire Telugu people worldwide.

1983
January 5
History Victory in Andhra Pradesh

Telugu Desam Party recorded a historic victory in the
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, winning 199 out of the 294 seats; NTR won both the seats he contested.

1983
January 9
Oath of an NTR

NTR took oath in a public meeting, attended by lakhs of
people, as the 10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh amid the thumping cheers. NTR is the first non-Congress politician to become Chief Minister in the State.

Beginning of a new era under NTR

1983
April 14

Established the Padmavati Women’s University at Tirupati, the first women’s University in Andhra Pradesh.

1983
April 27

Laid Foundation stone for the Telugu Ganga Project to provide water to Madras.

1983
May 27, 28, 29

Held the first mega conclave called ‘Mahanadu’ in  Vijayawada, attended by all the national and regional leaders of the country.

1983
July 6

Launched Rs 2/ kg rice scheme, the first of its kind in the country to provide food security to the poor.

1984
March 23

NTR campaigned for Mr Devi Lal in the Haryana assembly elections, and Mr Devilal won the election and became the Chief Minister of Haryana.

1984
July 18

Left for the USA to undergo coronary bypass surgery.

1984
August 16

Governor Ram Lal dismissed NTR Ministry and inducted his finance minister Nadendla Bhaskara Rao as Chief Minister most enigmatically.

The unilateral dismissal of a democratically elected government by the Governor at the behest of the Prime Minister evoked spontaneous outrage, wrath and dissent against the central government across the country.

1984
September
  • Returned from the USA post-surgery, NTR went on a vigorous campaign in a bid to restore democracy called Praja Yatra to highlight the brazen act of dismissing a democratically elected government.
  • The campaign attracted the attention of all other political parties, media, and foreign nations. Everybody unequivocally condemned the unfair and heinous act of dismissal and expressed solidarity with NTR.
  • Fearing a political backlash and turmoil, the central government yielded to the popular demand and reinstated NTR as the Chief Minister while replacing the Ram Lal with S.D. Sharma as Governor.
1984
December 27

Elections to the Lok Sabha were held following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. The Congress, led by Rajiv Gandhi, made huge gains across the country except in Andhra Pradesh, where Telugu Desam Party, led by NTR, posted a phenomenal victory, winning 30 parliamentary seats out of 42 in Andhra Pradesh, thus TDP, a regional party became the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha, creating a history in Indian Politics.

1985
March 5

Inspired by the outstanding show in parliament elections, NTR called for a fresh mandate in the assembly and recorded a grand victory winning 202 of 294 seats in the elections to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

1985
March 9

NTR took oath as Chief Minister for the third time.

1985
April 6

Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam started ‘Nityannadana Mahatkarya’ daily free meals to the devotees.

1985 Dissolution of Legislative Council.

 

1985, as part of the revenue reforms, NTR abolished the traditional and exploitative Karanam, Munasabu, and Patel-patwari systems and paved the way for the decentralisation of power by establishing the Mandal system encompassing smaller administrative units.

1985
September 9
Sub Label

First time in the country, NTR enacted a law to provide equal rights to women on par with men in sharing their father’s property.

1985
October

Buddha statue installation started on the rock in the middle of Hussain Sagar lake, Hyderabad, as a mark of Buddha’s teachings of
wisdom, compassion and freedom from suffering.

1985
December

A historic Government Order 610 was issued, which
envisages employment opportunities for the locals.

1985
December 2

Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University was established in
Hyderabad.

1986
April 18

NTR constructed permanent houses for 1,70,000 poor
families under the ‘Needa’ scheme for the first time in the country with a
budget of Rs.165 crores.

1987

NTR campaigned for Mr Devi Lal in the Haryana assembly elections, and Mr Devilal won the election and became the Chief Minister of Haryana.

1988
September 17

First meeting of the National Front, a coalition of all
non-Congress political parties, took place at Madras Marina Beach, and NTR
got elected as the Chairman.

1988
October 3

NTR, clad in a Haryana turban, addressed a massive
gathering along with National Front leaders in Mumbai.

1989
June 18

Film production of ‘Brahmarshi Vishwamitra’ begins. NTR started acting again after a gap of seven years.

1989
December

NTR lost the Assembly elections. Despite the defeat, NTR established himself as one of the towering personalities in national politics and led the National Front.

1993
April 23

NTR’s last film ‘Major Chandrakant’ was released.

1994
December 12

NTR again won the election by winning 216 seats, and
NTR began his third term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. On the same
day, a total liquor ban was implemented in Andhra Pradesh.

1995 August

The majority of party members withdrew their support to NTR due to the unabated indulgence of Laksmi Parvathi in all party and administrative matters.

1995
August 23

Nara Chandrababu Naidu was elected as the party
president and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

1996
January 18

Nandamuri Taraka Rama breath his last.