AP CM and TDP Natl President Naidu seeks Bharat Ratna for NTR at TDP Mahanadu
AMARAVATI, May 28 (TNT) :Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday demanded that the Bharat Ratna be conferred on Telugu Desam Party founder N. T. Rama Rao, saying it was the long-standing aspiration of the Telugu people.
The demand came as the Telugu Desam Party’s annual Mahanadu conclave unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to award the country’s highest civilian honour to the late leader.
Addressing the second day of the Mahanadu event organised on NTR’s birth anniversary, Naidu described the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister as a symbol of Telugu self-respect and a transformational figure in Indian politics and cinema.
“NTR will live forever in the hearts of Telugu people,” Naidu said, adding that the actor-turned-politician dedicated his life to the welfare of ordinary citizens and ushered in major political changes in the country.
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister said NTR rose from humble beginnings to become one of Telugu cinema’s most influential personalities before founding the TDP and becoming chief minister within nine months of launching the party.
He said the regional party founded by NTR later played a key role in national politics and coalition governments at the Centre.
Naidu also highlighted NTR’s welfare-oriented governance, saying his administration stood for farmers, women, workers and youth while promoting the principle that “Society is the temple, people are the gods.”
The TDP chief supported a proposal made by National Working President Nara Lokesh for 33 per cent reservation for women within the party structure and urged the Centre to implement similar reservation in legislative bodies.
“We ourselves should implement the 33 per cent reservation proposed by Lokesh,” Naidu said at the conclave.
TNT KM
