'Revolt' done to save party & Andhra: Chandrababu on TDP split

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Sixteen years after he dethroned his father-in-law N. T. Rama Rao to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday broke his silence and said the ‘revolt’ was only made to save the party and the state.

"I never imagined even in my dreams that I will revolt against NTR. For me, NTR was not just a father-in-law but a God whom I worshipped. But he was facing problems having come under the influence of an 'evil force' and hence we were left with no other option to save the TDP," Chandrababu said, delivering the valedictory address at the party's 30th annual general body meeting Mahanadu at Gandipet near here.

"We tried all means to check her influence and save the party but failed. Then, left with no option, we had to effect a leadership change and form the government (in 1995) in a democratic manner with the support of more than 200 MLAs," he said. It may be recalled that Chandrababu had staged a coup against his father-in-law and the then Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao by causing a split in the party.

Members of the NTR family stood by Chandrababu in this regard then while the Left parties also supported him. Subsequently, Chandrababu claimed his was the real TDP and continued in power for nine years. An agonised NTR died of a heart-attack in January 1996.

For years Chandrababu never spoke on the issue though he continued to use NTR as the party mascot to attract people who revered the charismatic leader as a demi-god. With the NTR family now reportedly sulking over Chandrababu's leadership and TDP's lost glory under him, the former chief minister tacitly used the Mahanadu platform to proclaim his loyalty towards his father-in-law and the party.

Maintaining that politics and relationship were different, Chandrababu said his only objective was to keep the TDP flag flying high forever and serve the people.