Tributes To NTR On His 29th Death Anniversary

Family members, political figures and fans gathered at NTR Ghat today to pay tributes to TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao on his 29th death anniversary.

Prominent attendees included NTR's sons Nandamuri Balakrishna and Ramakrishna, NTR's granddaughter Nandamuri Suhasini, actors Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh, and Lokesh's mother and NTR's daughter Nara Bhuvaneswari.

The family offered floral tributes to the late leader at the memorial, and recalled his contributions to politics, governance and the arts.

Speaking to the media about NTR's vision and legacy, Balakrishna said, "NTR founded the Telugu Desam Party for the poor. He brought political awareness to the Telugu people and introduced numerous reforms to ensure that governance reached the common man. Even today, many of his schemes continue to benefit the people. He was a university in himself, a guide for the Telugu nation, and the epitome of acting."

"NTR was also the great man who brought drinking water to Madras. He also transformed workers into leaders and ensured equitable governance. And, of course, he revolutionized acting in cinema with his unmatched experimentation and genius," he added.

Ramakrishna echoed these sentiments, and credited NTR with uniting the Telugu-speaking people and restoring their self-respect. "Within nine months of his founding the TDP, the Telugu people made him the Chief Minister. NTR's vision was to unite the Telugu people despite their regional differences," he said.

Lokesh spoke of the ongoing efforts to have the Bharat Ratna awarded for NTR, and added that discussions with the Union government were underway. He also provided updates on the development of Amaravathi, and also reaffirmed the TDP's commitment to rebuilding its presence in Telangana. "The party will be strengthened with inputs from senior leaders in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," he added.