A Process in Andhra Pradesh politics, initiated by N. Chandrababu Naidu in the last days of N. T. Rama Rao, is being carried to its logical conclusion.

Naidu had spearheaded the first major rebellion in the Telugu Desam Party against its legendary founder, leading to the fall of NTR. He went on to hand a resounding electoral rout to Lakshmi Parvathi, the chosen heir of the departed leader. He has now proceeded to evict N.

Harikrishna, son and charioteer of the former Chief Minister's Chaitanya Rath, from the party executive. Naidu had surprised many by succeeding in his rebellion against his father-in-law (unlike N. Bhaskara Rao earlier who rebelled only to be rejected by the party and the people) and by rallying majority support in the TDP that he had helped NTR build.

Not everyone expected Lakshmi Parvathi to elicit such meagre electoral sympathy. But few would be surprised by the disappearance of Harikrishna and the inner-party challenge he represented to the Chief Minister. Naidu, for his part, has seen no reason to be deterred by the dynastic status of the dissident leader, not to speak of his lesser status as the chief of the party's youth wing.

This is a measure of the political distance traversed by the TDP, presumed until recently to have no identity beyond the histrionic personality of NTR, under its new helmsman. Naidu has sharply underscored this message by putting off the date of the Telugu Desam mahanadu (conference), which has so far coincided with the birth anniversary of its charismatic creator. It is Naidu's party now, not NTR's anymore.

The causes for the Chief Minister's confidence are not far to seek. The electoral victory alone may not have emboldened him to embark on a course of delinking the TDP's future from its past so decisively. The post-election evidence of the popular response to the adoption of un-NTR-like ways by him and the party has been encouraging indeed. His departure from the path of populism, as on the issue of prohibition, has not been followed by dire consequences, contrary to fears expressed by a section of the partymen.

Added to this, apparently, is an enhancement of the national stature of Naidu in the post-Deve Gowda period. His role in ensuring the extension of the United Front rule in New Delhi has, of course, further strengthened his own State regime. More important, however, is his new-found status as a king-maker at the Centre that makes easier the beginning of a TDP break with the cult of the NTR of `Bharat Desam' ambitions.

Regardless of the reasons, the departure being effected is desirable from the larger democratic point of view. The deliverance of any party or State from any personality cult deserves to be welcomed. Caution is, however, warranted against rejoicing too soon in such cases. Often, liberation from a cult of this kind leads to the creation of another. De-NTR-isation of the TDP will be a wholesome development, if it is not followed by its Naidu-isation.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.