TDP Passes Bharat Ratna Resolution For NTR at Mahanadu as Naidu Praises Party Founder's Legacy

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has renewed its demand for the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on its founder, legendary actor-turned-politician Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), with a resolution passed at the party's annual Mahanadu conclave. The move was strongly backed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who praised NTR's contributions to Telugu society and Indian politics while urging the center to recognize his legacy with the country's highest civilian honor.

Naidu's endorsement of the Bharat Ratna demand has also brought renewed attention to his complex and often turbulent political relationship with NTR. As NTR's son-in-law, Naidu played a significant role in the growth of the TDP and benefited greatly from the immense popularity and political influence of the party founder. Over the years, however, their relationship became one of the most discussed chapters in Andhra Pradesh's political history.

NTR founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 and rapidly transformed the political landscape of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Riding on his popularity as a film icon, he championed Telugu pride and challenged the dominance of national parties in the state. His rise to power marked a turning point in regional politics, and he remains one of the most influential leaders in the history of Andhra Pradesh.

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The most controversial phase in the relationship between NTR and Naidu unfolded in 1995. Amid growing internal unrest within the party, Naidu led a rebellion supported by several TDP legislators against his father-in-law. The dissident group argued that NTR's second wife, Lakshmi Parvathi, was gaining excessive influence over party affairs and that the organization's future was at risk. The political revolt ultimately resulted in Naidu replacing NTR as chief minister, an episode that supporters and critics continue to debate decades later.

The fallout deeply affected both the party and the NTR family. NTR was removed from power and spent his final months politically isolated before his death in 1996. Despite the bitter split, Naidu subsequently consolidated control over the TDP and led the party through multiple electoral battles, becoming one of the longest-serving and most influential leaders in Andhra Pradesh politics. The party has since sought to preserve NTR's legacy while highlighting its role in carrying forward his vision.

Today, Naidu frequently acknowledges NTR's contributions and credits him with inspiring generations of Telugu people. At the recent Mahanadu gathering, he described NTR as a leader who placed the interests and dignity of Telugu citizens above all else. The renewed Bharat Ratna campaign reflects the TDP's continued effort to secure national recognition for its founder, even as memories of the dramatic political events that reshaped their relationship remain an important part of Andhra Pradesh's political history.

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