TDP leaders perform ‘palabhisekham’ at the statue of former chief minister and TDP founder NT Rama Rao on his death anniversary in Tirupati on Sunday. | Photo credit: KV Pooranachandra Kumar
Rich tributes were paid to former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder NT Rama Rao (NTR) on his 30th death anniversary on Sunday (January 18, 2026) across Tirupati and Kurnool. TDP leaders and activists organized blood donation camps and engaged in other service activities.
In Tirupati, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) paid rich tributes to its founder NT Rama Rao at a program organized in the university campus. Vice-Chancellor V. Uma along with Registrar R. Usha paid floral tributes at NT Rama Rao’s statue.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor said that the very existence of the university is due to NT Rama Rao’s visionary decision in 1983 to establish an all-women university. She urged all to imbibe the qualities of NT Rama Rao like simplicity, dedication to work and discipline and to work together to raise the university to international standards.
On this occasion, the registrar prof. R. Usha emphasized that NT Rama Rao envisioned the empowerment of women nearly four decades ago and established this university to realize this goal. She noted that thousands of women have been educated through this institution and have risen to great heights.
Former registrar prof. participated in the program. N. Rajani, deans of various faculties, heads of departments, teaching and non-teaching staff and students.
Tributes were also paid to the former Chief Minister of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences by its Director and Vice-Chancellor Dr. RV Kumar and Medical Superintendent Dr. Frame. The hospital management organized an ‘annadanam’ (communal lunch) on the occasion.
In Kurnool, TDP district president Gudise Krishnamma, party state general secretary Somisetta Venkateswarlu and other leaders decorated statues of NT Rama Rao in the city. Talking to the media, TDP leaders said that NT Rama Rao started the party with the slogan of Telugu pride and the party came to power in just nine months. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Front and led it to victory at the Center by decimating the Congress, they said, adding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had successfully promoted the ideologies of NT Rama Rao after taking over the reins of the party.
Published – 18 Jan 2026 20:00 IST
