Chief ministership of N. T. Rama Rao

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N. T. Rama Rao (NTR) was the founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and served as Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh in four terms between 1983 and 1995. He was the first non-Congress leader to hold the office in the state.

Term 1 (January 1983 – August 1984)
- Rama Rao led the TDP to victory in the 1983 assembly elections and became Chief Minister.
- While he was in the United States for heart surgery, the Governor dismissed his government and appointed Nadendla Bhaskara Rao as Chief Minister.
- Rama Rao returned to India, argued that he still had majority support, and the Governor eventually reinstated him. He then completed his first term and began a second term.

Term 2 (September 1984 – March 1985)
- After regaining power, he served a second brief term as Chief Minister.

Term 3 (March 1985 – December 1989)
- Rama Rao won a full term in the 1985 elections and governed until 1989, when his party lost power at the state level.

Term 4 (December 1994 – September 1995)
- He returned as Chief Minister in 1994 after the TDP won state elections, this time with an alliance with Left parties.
- In September 1995, internal party differences led to a leadership crisis. A group of senior TDP members opposed Rama Rao’s growing influence of Lakshmi Parvathi, Rama Rao’s wife. Chandrababu Naidu won the party’s support and became Chief Minister on September 1, 1995, replacing Rama Rao.

Key policies and initiatives
- Education and language: Rama Rao prioritized education as a path to social mobility. His government expanded access to education, introduced standardized entrance exams (like EAMCET) for engineering and medical admissions, promoted instruction in Telugu, and supported the use of English and Hindi alongside local languages. He strengthened the Telugu Academy and supported a state Open University to offer distance learning. He also expanded government school reform and reduced private capitation fees for admissions.
- Local governance and social reform: He introduced the Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) system to decentralize power and give more voice to local communities, including backward classes. His administration moved to increase women’s economic security and expanded programs aimed at rural development and welfare.
- Social welfare programs: The government implemented subsidized food and electricity for poor families, launched housing schemes for the economically weaker sections, and introduced clothing subsidies for poor women. A mid-day meal program was extended to schoolchildren from low-income households.
- Irrigation and water management: Large irrigation projects, such as the Telugu Ganga project to improve irrigation in Rayalaseema and supply water to Chennai, were pursued. The administration promoted farmer participation in water distribution and planning.
- Economic and administrative reforms: Rama Rao pursued privatization of some state-owned, non-performing enterprises and supported the creation of autonomous economic institutions. The Andhra Pradesh Mutually Aided Co-operative Societies (MACS) Act was part of his reform agenda, aiming to empower cooperatives with greater autonomy.
- Infrastructure and development: His government expanded road and air connectivity, built major transport terminals (like the MGBS in Hyderabad), and supported urban beautification projects. The state also advanced projects to develop airports in Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Warangal.
- National role and identity: Rama Rao played a key role in forming the National Front, a coalition of non-Congress parties, and helped shift Indian politics toward more coalition-based governance at the center. He also helped promote a distinct Telugu identity for Andhra Pradesh, contributing to Hyderabad becoming a major center for Telugu cinema.

Public administration and temple reforms
- The government implemented reforms in temple administration and introduced measures to increase transparency in public processes. It also reorganized administrative structures, moved several offices out of the state secretariat for efficiency, and enacted policies affecting local government and public sector services.

Legacy
- NTR’s tenure is seen as a turning point that strengthened non-Congress political power in Andhra Pradesh and influenced center-state political dynamics in India. He left a lasting imprint on education, local governance, social welfare, and the push for a more decentralized state administration. He died in 1996, after which his party continued to influence state politics through his successors, including his son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu, who became Chief Minister in 1995.