Andhra Pradesh   

Silver Jubilee of TDP

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

HYDERABAD: It was a deluge of yellow. The silver jubilee celebrations of the Telugu Desam Party were to be inaugurated by president N. Chandrababu Naidu only in the evening. But a steady stream of visitors began descending on the Nizam College grounds — the venue for the political festival — since morning.

Just a few minutes at the venue in the day was enough to have a feel of the bond that people had with N.T. Rama Rao. The TDP turned 25 but for the not-so-politically-active types, it was a journey down memory lane.

Ask K. Anja Rao, who heads the party's security wing. He was 35 years (an SI of the 1970 batch) when he became personal security officer to NTR. Flooded with fond memories, he recalls: "The 30 days I spent with him touring 11 districts and other places is unforgettable. That was when he was unseated. Despite the physical strain and emotional pain, he always used to ask me whether I had eaten."

Rare collection

The photo exhibition drew milling crowds. There were photographs of the former Chief Minister on one side and those of Mr. Naidu on the other. Those apart, there were hundreds showing NTR in his myriad roles. Among frames that stood out was one of the party-founder with an arm around Mr. Naidu, then general secretary, one with Rajiv Gandhi and another that showed NTR with Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia.

Using his mobile phone, a youngsters was busy shooting the monochromes on panels while a father was showing his son an interesting photograph.

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