N T Rama Rao was the original poster boy of populism, who made history by ousting an entrenched Congress from power on the back of the promise of cheap rice. The issue of Telugu pride, coupled with the promise of the subsidised staple, turned out to be a deadly electoral cocktail, and a lesson the grand old party learnt the hard way in Andhra Pradesh.

Now, over 35 years after the TDP founder's feat, his son-in-law and Andhra Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, is using NTR’s name to the hilt by launching Anna canteens in the poll-bound state. The late leader was Anna ...

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