Today marks the 27th death anniversary of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao who left his mark on films and politics. He enjoyed god-like status in films and shifted his focus to politics later. Even close to three decades after his demise his name is still relevant in current politics.
He ruled the Tollywood industry for more than three decades. In the late 70s, NTR decided to venture into politics to do something for people who made him a Superstar. That's when the grand old Telugu Desam Party was formed. Telugu politics can be seen before and after the 1983 elections. The self-respect of Telugu was the slogan used by NTR.
The Congress party was fully dominant in combined Andhra Pradesh when TDP was formed. He scripted history and crushed the party in the general elections. Though his glamour played a big role in this, the schemes he introduced created a special bonding between the common people and the party.
Seeing that poor people are unable to have rice, he brought the scheme to give 25 kgs of rice to families with an annual income of less than Rs 3,000. The families were given rice at Rs 2 per kilo. This helped millions of ration card holders. The beneficiaries of the scheme were given quality rice.
Another daring decision he took was to ban liquor sales completely. After women protested saying that their families are getting affected by liquor, NTR promised to ban liquor if he gets to power. Without forgetting the promise NTR went for the ban and closed the breweries and 24 distilleries.
NTR provided pucca houses for the poor making them have a safe shelter. Such politics made him a people's leader and even the current politicians are taking his name. We can hear the current politicians lauding the schemes implemented by the late NTR. Such was his aura.
His political stint was not restricted to the state level alone. As NTR floated Telugu Desam Party against the Congress party he brought all the opposition parties under one roof against the party. He even served as the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha.
He ruled the Tollywood industry for more than three decades. In the late 70s, NTR decided to venture into politics to do something for people who made him a Superstar. That's when the grand old Telugu Desam Party was formed. Telugu politics can be seen before and after the 1983 elections. The self-respect of Telugu was the slogan used by NTR.
The Congress party was fully dominant in combined Andhra Pradesh when TDP was formed. He scripted history and crushed the party in the general elections. Though his glamour played a big role in this, the schemes he introduced created a special bonding between the common people and the party.
Seeing that poor people are unable to have rice, he brought the scheme to give 25 kgs of rice to families with an annual income of less than Rs 3,000. The families were given rice at Rs 2 per kilo. This helped millions of ration card holders. The beneficiaries of the scheme were given quality rice.
Another daring decision he took was to ban liquor sales completely. After women protested saying that their families are getting affected by liquor, NTR promised to ban liquor if he gets to power. Without forgetting the promise NTR went for the ban and closed the breweries and 24 distilleries.
NTR provided pucca houses for the poor making them have a safe shelter. Such politics made him a people's leader and even the current politicians are taking his name. We can hear the current politicians lauding the schemes implemented by the late NTR. Such was his aura.
His political stint was not restricted to the state level alone. As NTR floated Telugu Desam Party against the Congress party he brought all the opposition parties under one roof against the party. He even served as the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha.