N. T. Rama Rao (1983–1995) Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) is a prominent figure in Indian cinema and politics, particularly known for his influence in Telugu-speaking regions. As an actor, he gained widespread recognition not only among Telugu-speaking people but across the country. NTR's contributions extend beyond the film industry, as he played a significant role in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape. On 18 November 1977, the
Pralaya cyclone struck the
coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, particularly affecting
Diviseema in
Krishna district. The cyclone caused widespread devastation, with turbulent seas resulting in massive flooding. Thousands of people lost their lives, and extensive property damage was reported. Official reports indicated casualties more than 10,000. Around 20,000 acres of crops were destroyed, and the overall damage was estimated to be in crores of rupees. The event left a lasting impact on the people of the region, and the memory of the flooding is still vivid among locals. Shocked by the devastation, NTR mobilized support from the film industry and the general public to assist the victims of Diviseema. He appealed to people for donations, and the funds raised were used for the rehabilitation of the affected communities. In response to the challenges faced by the people of Andhra Pradesh, NTR founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on 29 March 1982, with the aim of addressing the state's political and socio-economic issues. The party's formation marked a shift in the political landscape, as it sought to provide an alternative to the long-standing rule of the
Indian National Congress, which had been in power for over 26 years. In the 1983 state elections, the TDP secured a landslide victory, and NTR was sworn in as the
10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 9 January 1983. However, NTR's tenure as Chief Minister was interrupted in August 1984 when he went to the
United States for medical treatment. During his absence,
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, a TDP MLA, took office as the Chief Minister with the support of the then
Governor,
Thakur Ram Lal. NTR's son-in-law Naidu, played an active role in rallying the support of legislators for NTR. He gathered them at
Ramakrishna Cine Studios until NTR's return. On 16 September 1984, NTR led a march and protest in Delhi, demonstrating against the central government's actions under Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. Subsequently, NTR regained his position as Chief Minister, restoring his leadership in the state. In 1985, after successfully regaining his position as Chief Minister following a brief political crisis, NTR called for fresh elections. The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the TDP. Naidu, who was initially involved in party activities by organizing training programs for legislators and computerizing membership records, was subsequently appointed as the party's general secretary in 1986. During his tenure as Chief Minister, NTR implemented significant reforms in Andhra Pradesh, including the divestment of state industries, the introduction of the 1995 MACS Act for co-operatives, and an overhaul of the education system with statewide entrance exams like
EAMCET. He also initiated welfare programs such as subsidized rice and housing, along with large-scale irrigation projects like the
Telugu Ganga project. NTR's governance focused on decentralization, women empowerment, and enhancing the state's infrastructure, making lasting contributions to its political and economic development. The party lost power in the
1989 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, and was restricted to the opposition. However, it regained power in the
1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. NTR was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fourth time. At the national level, the
National Front (NF) was established under the leadership of the
Janata Dal, which governed India from 1989 to 1990. NTR served as its chairman. In 1995, a political crisis in Andhra Pradesh resulted in the removal of NTR as both the Chief Minister and the party president. NTR's son-in-law, N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with other family members, including
Nandamuri Harikrishna,
Nandamuri Balakrishna, and eldest son-in-law
Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, ousted NTR from his roles in the party and government. Naidu accused NTR of being influenced by his second wife,
Lakshmi Parvathi, whom he had married in 1993 following the death of his first wife, Basava Tarakam, in 1985. With the majority of party legislators supporting him, Naidu went on to become the longest-serving Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the president of TDP since then. On 18 January 1996, NTR died of a
heart attack at his residence in
Hyderabad, aged 72. With Naidu already assuming leadership of the TDP, Lakshmi Parvathi founded the
NTR Telugu Desam Party (Lakshmi Parvathi). However, it failed to make any impact on the TDP's performance or vote share.
N. Chandrababu Naidu (1995–present) Following the internal party crisis, with N. Chandrababu Naidu having assumed the role of Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and president of the party in 1995, the party underwent a significant transformation. Naidu's leadership marked a shift from the
populist approach of NTR to a more
technocratic and development-oriented governance model. Naidu's first term as Chief Minister (1995–2004) is widely recognized for its focus on economic reforms and technological advancement. He prioritised transforming
Hyderabad into a major IT hub, earning the moniker "CEO of Andhra Pradesh." His administration introduced initiatives like the Janmabhoomi program for rural development, e-seva centers for
e-governance and infrastructure projects, including highways and bridges. Naidu's policies attracted global investment, notably in the IT sector. Naidu's rise coincided with a role on the national stage with the formation of the
United Front (UF), a coalition of non-Congress and non-BJP parties in 1996 to provide a third alternative government at the center. Following the inconclusive
1996 Indian general election, which resulted in a hung parliament, the TDP with 16 Lok Sabha seats extended support to the United Front government led by Prime Minister
H. D. Deve Gowda and later
I. K. Gujral. Naidu also served as the UF convenor. In the
1999 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the TDP under Naidu's leadership secured victory, winning 180 out of 294 seats. The party provided outside support to the
Atal Bihari Vajpayee led central government as part of the
National Democratic Alliance. Despite these achievements, Naidu faced criticism for his perceived neglect of the agricultural sector and rural communities. Several droughts and increasing agrarian distress during his tenure intensified dissatisfaction among rural voters. This growing discontent contributed to the TDP's defeat in the
2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, with the Indian National Congress, returning to power. After the 2004 electoral loss, Naidu continued to serve as the Leader of the Opposition and sought to reconnect with rural voters by adjusting the party's focus toward welfare and agricultural concerns. However, the TDP was again defeated in the
2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. During this period, Naidu remained an active figure in state politics, critiquing government policies and advocating for development-oriented reforms. The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, which resulted in the formation of the new state of Telangana, led the party to establish separate units for both Telugu-speaking states.
Andhra Pradesh (since 2014) In the
2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election held that year, Naidu led the TDP to victory in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh as part of the NDA once again. He was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the newly reorganized Andhra Pradesh. His administration focused on building a new capital city at Amaravati, improving infrastructure, promoting foreign investment and enhancing public service delivery through digital initiatives. Despite these efforts, the Naidu government faced growing criticism over delays in capital construction and its inability to secure Special Category Status for the state from the centre. In the
2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the TDP suffered a major defeat to the YSR Congress Party, and Naidu once again became the Leader of the Opposition. The party accused the ruling YSR Congress Party of political harassment and the use of derogatory language against its leader Naidu. Several TDP members were arrested and attacked, many killed, while party president Naidu was arrested in 2023 on alleged corruption charges, which he and his party described as politically motivated. His arrest led to widespread protests by party supporters across the state. Throughout its time in opposition, the TDP organized various demonstrations and campaigns criticizing the government's policies and governance. In the 2024 elections, Naidu re-established the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jana Sena Party, rejoining the NDA. The alliance won a landslide victory in the
2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, while the YSRCP suffered a major setback and failed to secure the status of the opposition. The result had the highest seat share for the TDP in its electoral history. Naidu was sworn in for a fourth term as Chief Minister, marking a historic political comeback.
Telangana (since 2014) After the
formation of Telangana, the TDP, in alliance with
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contested the
2014 Legislative Assembly election. TDP won 15 seats in the newly formed
Telangana Legislative Assembly securing most of its seats in the districts of
Ranga Reddy,
Hyderabad,
Mahabubnagar,
Warangal, and
Khammam. The party also won a Lok Sabha seat from
Malkajgiri in the simultaneously held
2014 Indian general election. However, defections of legislators and other leaders from TDP to the
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), now known as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the alleged portrayal of TDP as an "Andhra party" by the TRS, led to a decline of the party's influence in the state. In the
2016 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election, TDP won just one councillor seat out of 150. In the
2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election, the party won two seats, both in Khammam district, out of 119 seats. It had contested the 2018 elections as part of the
Praja Kutami, which included the
Indian National Congress, traditionally a long-time opponent of TDP and other parties. Following the bifurcation, TDP created separate state units for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In 2015,
L. Ramana, a two time former MLA from
Jagtial, was appointed as the first president of the Telangana unit of TDP, serving until 2021. Ramana later quit the party to join the BRS. He was succeeded by
Bakkani Narasimhulu, a former MLA from
Shadnagar, in July 2021. In November 2022,
Kasani Gnaneshwar Mudiraj, a former
MLC and BC leader, was appointed president of Telangana TDP by N. Chandrababu Naidu. Kasani, who had also served as the national president of the
Mudiraj Mahasabha, initiated efforts to revive the party in Telangana after his appointment. However, on 30 October 2023, Kasani resigned as Telangana TDP president and joined the BRS, following N. Chandrababu Naidu announcement that TDP would not contest the
2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election. Since then, the party's Telangana unit has remained without a leader. The party also announced that it would not contest the
2024 Indian general election in Telangana, but would continue to be part of the NDA.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands The TDP also holds influence in the
union territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands, contesting the
Port Blair Municipal Council elections periodically. With a significant Telugu population in the islands, the party secured and maintained two seats in both the 2015 and 2022 council elections. On 14 March 2023, TDP councillor S. Selvi was elected as the chairperson, as part of the TDP
–BJP alliance. ==Electoral performance==