Politics of Andhra Pradesh

=Independence Era=

Potti Sriramulu worked towards unifying all the Telugu-speaking people, who were residing in the united madras presidency, into one state. After India's Independence, the Hyderabad state where there were telugu speaking formed a separate state known as " Hyderbad State " in 1953 under the chief mininstership of Boorgula Vishveshriah.

then at the same time telugus under the rule of Madras state agitated for separate state from Madras which is no way connected to the hyderabad state

Congress Era

The Indian National Congress party won all the state elections from the emergence of the state in 1953 till 1983.Many Prominent leaders have developed the state a lot by constructing projects like Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam Dams. The Congress leaders led the state with a normal development until 1975.after 1980 caste politics has been improved in the state.no dams has been constructed. Y S Rajasekhar Reddy era started by 2004 is very good time as the dams where required has been constructed but, the involvement of massive corruption in these projects aiding in defame of the party.

First separate Telangana movement

It was started by Chenna Reddy, despite TPS, the party of Shri M Chenna Reddy won the elections sweeping all but one seat, Indira Gandhi had Chenna Reddy give up the movement for the separate state.

Second Telangana movement

The second Telangana movement for a separate state was started by K. Chandrashekar Rao in 2001.

= Emergence of Telugu Desam Party = NTR established his Telugu Desam Party (meaning, Land of Telugus) with the support of people's dissent arising out of frequent changes in chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh by Indira Gandhi, chief of Congress party. Within a record 9 months of establishing, Telugu Desam was voted to power and NTR became the first Non-Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.Andhra Pradesh is the only state separated on the basis of Telugu speaking people in telangana

Present Situation

On 26th August 2008, matinee idol Megastar Chiranjeevi launched his own party named 'Prajaa Raajyam'. The opening rally witnessed a whopping 10 lakh people at Tirupathi. Chiranjeevi is all set to give a tough competition to existing parties in A.P .

Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy of the Indian National Congress is the current Chief Minister of Andhra. His party won the 2004 elections as part of a coalition of with TRS. During the run-up to 2004 elections, Dr. Y.S Rajasekhar Reddy was able bring a common platform and mutual agreement within the Andhra Pradesh Congress Party. His campaign took form of a three-month-long "padhayatra" or foot-walk. The elections resulted in the defeat of the then-ruling Telugu Desam Party under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu. The congress also won the municipal elections in 2005 and district local body elections in 2006 and also Panchayat Elections in 2006. Present situation of the state is very unpleasant for the Congress as the senior leaders of Telangana do not favor YSR. The increasing rate of corruption, farmer suicides, rising inflation, involvement of ruling party leaders' kin and kith in land mafia, killings of opposition leaders, faction rate are a big concern for the State Government. Poverty rate also on a high in the State. Increase in inflation rate to 13 year high which led to all time high prices of commodities and food items are of great concern for the Government. At the center too uncontrollable inflation and noncompliance on Nuclear deal by UPA partners are pointing for early polls. All these would definitely affect the ruling party in the coming days. Congress losing its regime in almost all the states which went to elections recently which lead to BJP rule in 12 States of the country.

Politics and Media

The present politics in the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) are divided between Congress and Telugu Desam.

Eenadu(run by Mr.Ramoji Rao) newspaper is the largest circulated daily in Andhra Pradesh strongly favours and supports the Telugu Desam party, other newspapers like Vaartha ( run by Girish Sanghi, Industrialist and director of Sanghi industries who joined Congress party during 2004 elections) and Sakshi newspaper run by CM's son and Sun Network(which owns Gemini and Teja channels) favour the congress party. This press/media bias towards politics is not limited to the state of AP but it is present everywhere in India.

References

"- Politics in State of AP, India, Despande, Murthy, Rao, Sunday & Economic times 2004"

"- Indian Political moves and their applicability , Gajendra Nayak, Stephen iyer, Asian Age 2003"

"- State of AP, Official government press releases, 1981-2004"

"- Caste system and its influence in South India, Manju Nair, Frontline"

" - Eenadu, Vaartha, Andhra Jyothi, Andhra Prabha, Deccan chronicle, Times of India, The Hindu: News papers of India, Library reference British library, Bangalore, Steven guslie, sushma murthy, Manoj thakur"