Hyderabad: Telugu Desam’s 41st Formation Day celebrations highlighted the achievements and public service rendered by its founder-president and former chief minister late N.T. Rama Rao.
Against the backdrop of a changing political scenario, the centenary celebrations of NTR came as a programme that unified Telugu leaders from both states. Cut-outs, posters and pictures of N.T. Rama Rao were displayed across Hyderabad city and roads leading to the Exhibition Grounds, where the event was held.
A ‘Chaitanya ratham (publicity vehicle)’ used by NTR was the centre of attraction at the celebrations as party activists flocked to take selfies with it. The speech by Nandamuri Balakrishna was also well received with slogans of ‘Jai Balayya’ echoing around the venue.
In his speech, Balakrishna praised N.T. Rama Rao and criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy for changing the name of the NTR Health University to YSR Health University. He said that during the TD government, they never changed the name to former chief minister Marri Chenna Reddy's name.
Political watchers said that the event brought together TD leaders from both Telugu states after a long gap. The party cadre also took part enthusiastically in the programme, wearing yellow clothes.
Setting aside his security cover, Chandrababu Naidu was the perfect host on the occasion, mingling with the party cadre and senior leaders, who reminisced about their decades-long association with the party since NTR’s time.
Meanwhile, TD workers and leaders expressed their happiness at the successful event, saying that the successful conduction of the Formation Day has geared them up for the TD Mahanadu programme in May, at Rajamahendravaram, and Intintiki Telugu Desam programmes.
