A political history of Andhra Pradesh: Two states and modern times Premium

Explore the political history of Andhra Pradesh from its formation in 1953 to the rise of TDP in 1983 and beyond. Read more on The Hindu

The turn of the century brought in new challenges for Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana movement, always a potent undercurrent, continued during the 21st century, culminating in the division of unified Andhra Pradesh into two separate States — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana— in 2014.

State leadership and its vicissitudes offered another object of interest in the post-NTR years. The changeover from three decades of Congress rule to the Telugu Desam Party marked an key epoch in Andhra Pradesh politics. Yet another turning point came with the rise of YSR, and later, his son Jaganmohan Reddy.

And now, Chandrababu Naidu returns to the helm of an Andhra Pradesh of a different make from his earliest tenure as Chief Minister. As he takes on new issues and deals with the legacy of old ones, the political history of the region may serve as a key to deciphering the curious politics at work in the State today.

Dr. YS Rajashekhara Reddy had quit the Congress (I) and joined the Reddy Congress during his maiden election in 1978. After the Reddy Congress was disbanded, he returned to Congress and became the PCC president again in 1997 when TDP was in power and N Chandrababu Naidu was Chief Minister. He vowed to dethrone Chandrababu Naidu in 1999.

The push for Telangana intensified with the creation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2001, created by K. Chandrasekara Rao. By this time, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal had been created, breaking away from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh respectvely. states that spurred the demand for Telangana.

When it was time for the next elections in 2004, TRS forged an alliance with Congress. YSR had gained popularity with the public after a 1,450-km padayatra across the State in 2003. Congress won the majority; TRS, with five Lok Sabha seats and 26 Assembly seats, also announced its presence.

Taking over as Chief Minister in 2004 when the Naxal menace was at its peak, Dr. Reddy brought the Left-wing extremists to the negotiating table, taking them onboard the plank of development when they refused to lay down arms. He injected development in Naxal-dominated rural areas and launched several welfare programmes and irrigation schemes in a state which had recently witnessed rising rates of farmer suicides