THE DECCAN POWERPLAY: REDDY, NAIDU AND THE REALPOLITIK OF ANDHRA PRADESH

by Amar Devulapalli

  • Category Non-Fiction
  • Format Paperback
  • Imprint Rupa
  • Price 395
  1. ISBN: 978-93-5702-816-5
  2. Pages: 224 pages
  3. Date: 5th January 2024

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy illustrate three
different narratives. This is the history of their passions, politics and practices.
This book is a critical appraisal of the events and personalities that shaped the past 40 years in the
history of Andhra Pradesh, starting with the advent of Indira Gandhi’s Congress (I) government
to the division of the state in 2014. In these years, the Telugu people have seen 13 chief ministers
beginning with Marri Chenna Reddy in 1978 down to the present custodians of Andhra and Telangana,
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and K. Chandrasekhar Rao, respectively. Along the way, we encounter some
formidable personalities: N.T. Rama Rao, N. Chandrababu Naidu, the magnetic Y.S. Rajasekhara
Reddy, the modern trail blazer of a long-drawn movement K. Chandrasekhar Rao and dynamic
and self-reliant Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The heart-stopping centerpiece is the ‘Viceroy Coup’, the ultimate betrayal by Chandrababu Naidu that toppled the iconic NTR, leaving everyone stunned.
The Deccan Powerplay is an enthralling tale of power, passion and treachery, mirroring the intensity
of Telugu cinema on the political stage.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Amar Devulapalli, a seasoned journalist and a well-known trade union leader, gained a nuanced
understanding of Telugu regional politics. He pioneered a weekly, contributed to English digital
platforms and hosted a prime-time show for a prominent Telugu news channel. Within the Indian
Journalists Union (IJU), he ascended from a district-level position to a national leadership role.
Amar advises the Andhra Pradesh government on national media affairs. This book, a testament
to his extensive interactions with key political figures, encapsulates four decades of his professional
journey. As an active trade unionist, he started at the district level fighting for the rights of working
journalists and graduated to head at the national level as its president.