1983 Mahanadu: NTR’s iconic call for Mahanadu united nation’s politics

opposition leaders at 1983 Mahanadu

Legendary Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao started a political party Telugu Desam Party. Within 9 months of starting Telugu Desam, he brought it into power.

NT Rama Rao thought of holding the 1983 Mahanadu in Vijayawada in the wake of the historic victory of the Telugu Desam Party within nine months of its establishment. NTR decided to invite the opposition leaders to the Mahanadu meeting which was scheduled to be held on May 27 and 28, 1983 in order to strengthen the unity of the opposition.

23 leaders of various political parties from the Communist parties to the Bharatiya Janata Party responded to the invitation. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MGR also attended the meeting. They all had extensive discussions on many issues at the thermal power station guest house on Vijayawada Hill.

The public meeting held in Vijayawada that evening was a standout in the country’s politics. Not counting the heavy rain, about five lakh people attended that historic meeting. The country has never seen leaders from 23 political parties on the same stage.

Among those prominent leaders present at the Mahanadu, L.K. Advani (BJP), Barnala (Akali Dal), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MGR (AIADMK), Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde (Janata), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah (National Conference), Ravindra Verma (General Secretary of Janata Party), A.S. Mishra (Lok Dal), Sharad Pawar (Congress [S), H.N. Bahuguna (Democratic Socialist Party), Maneka Gandhi (Rashtriya Vichar Manch), Jagjeevan Ram (Congress [J]), Makineni Basavapunnaiah (CPI [M), Chandra Rajeswara Rao (CPI).