Amaravati, March 29 (NationPress) The national President of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, emphasized on Sunday that the TDP genuinely embodies the dreams and aspirations of the Telugu populace.

During the celebration of TDP's 44th foundation anniversary, he shared his sentiments with members of the 'TDP family'.

“The Telugu Desam Party, established by the transformative leader NTR, mirrors the hopes of generations of Telugu individuals. We are unwavering in our commitment to his guiding principle of ensuring food, clothing, and shelter for the underprivileged,” he articulated on X.

“The TDP is the property of its dedicated workers. This foundational day serves as a family celebration for us. I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt wishes to every member,” he remarked.

TDP General Secretary and Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology, Nara Lokesh, reflected that the TDP was born out of a desire for the self-respect and advancement of the Telugu community.

“Motivated by the iconic actor and global figure, the late NT Rama Rao, who proclaimed that society is akin to a temple and its people are divine, the TDP has been a pillar of support for the marginalized. It was only with the advent of the TDP that the downtrodden and weaker sections of society obtained both political and social acknowledgment,” he stated.

Lokesh asserted that the party responsible for introducing welfare initiatives across the nation is indeed the Telugu Desam Party. “As we commemorate the founding day of the TDP, which is on a mission to elevate Telugu individuals to the forefront globally, I extend my warmest congratulations to all,” added Lokesh, who is also the son of Chandrababu Naidu.

On March 29, 1982, N.T. Rama Rao, a celebrated Telugu actor, established the TDP under the banner of Telugu self-respect. NTR, as he was affectionately known, achieved a remarkable feat by ascending to power just nine months after the party's inception.

NTR passed away in January 1996, a few months after his son-in-law, Chandrababu Naidu, staged a revolt against him to assume the role of Chief Minister of the then-undivided Andhra Pradesh. Naidu led the TDP to victory in 1999 and continued as Chief Minister until 2004 when Congress regained control.

Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the TDP formed the very first government in the residual state. However, in 2019, the party lost power to the YSR Congress Party, led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. In 2024, TDP, under Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, surged back to power in the state.