It is unknown to the new generation that as many as 67 Opposition MLAs from united Andhra Pradesh created a history of sorts in 1966. The entire lot of 67 MLAs resigned from the House protesting the central government’s hostility to grant the Nation’s fifth steel plant at vizag.
Vizag was a strong contender for the steel plant. A study report was submitted by an Anglo-American consortium. In the report it was said that the port city would be an ideal place to set up the public sector steel plant.
However, there was a tough competition among southern states for the plant. AICC president Kamaraj Nadar was trying to take it to Tamil Nadu, Nijalingappa, the Chief Minister of Karnataka was batting for Karnataka. Odisha also pitched in, pressurizing the centre for the steel plant to be set up in the state.
Interestingly, though Telugu Congress stalwart Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was the union steel minister, he did not fight for Andhra. He had apparent reasons for this inaction. He fear that any decision taken in favor pf Andhra would make his Arch- rival Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, the then chief minister of the state a hero.
There was lots of blame game going on at that time. Chief minister Kasu used to allege that Sanjeeva Reddy was harming the interests of Andhra with an ulterior motive and the same was done by the latter. The proposed steel plant created enormous excitement among the youth and the people. People were certain that it was set to boost the employment opportunities in thousands for the youth of Andhra Pradesh.
There was no major industry worth its name. Hence, it was unanimously thought that a resolution should be sent to the centre urging them to locate the much talked about steel plant at Vizag during the fourth Five-year Plan period.
All their efforts went futile when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, however, addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, ruled out setting up of steel plant in fourth Five-year plan period. The youth and the people of Andhra Pradesh were thoroughly disappointed. They felt that the factional feud between two Reddys giants, Neelam and Kasu was the reason for crushing their aspirations.
T Amrutarao of Gandhi Mission from Guntur sat on fast unto death for the steel plant on October 5, 1966.He ignited a spark for unprecedented agitation across the state. Very soon the agitation engulfed the state. Two MLAs, including Owaisi of MIM, were arrested.
The police resorted to firing in which 32 people were killed. The protest against the police killings echoed in the Assembly. All opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion against Kasu government on November 17, 1966.
Communist stalwart Tarimela Nagireddy initiated the debate in the House. Members Pillamarri Venkateswarlu (CPI), Tenneti Viswantham (National Democrat), Gouthu Latchanna (Swatantra Party) Vavilala Gopala Krishnaiah (Independent), TKR Sarma (SSP) spoke and excoriated the Congress governments both at the centre and the state for the violence in agitation and disinclination to set up the steel plant at Vizag.
They demanded the resignation of chief minister Kasu Brahmananda Reddy who rubbished it. The confidence motion fell through, which forced 67 members from the opposition benches (CPI 30, CPM 21, 8 Swatantra, 2 National Democrats, 1 SSP and 5 independents) to tender resignations to the speaker.
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Names of MLA who resigned for the sake of Vizag Steel Plant: From CPI: Pillalamarri Venkateswarlu (Nandigama), Vemulapalli Srikrishna( Mangalagiri),K Nagaiah (Guntur 1), P Koteswara Rao ( Peddakakani), JLN Chaudary (Chirala), PV Sivaiah (Vinukonda), P Ranganayakulu ( Addanki), Vellanki Visweswara Rao(Mylavaram), Myneni Lakshmana Swamy ( Kankipadu), Vanka Satyannarayana ( Penugonda), A Sarveswara Rao ( Eluru), P Shyama Sundara Rao ( Achenta), K Baburao ( Polavaram), P Panasa Ramanna ( Anaparthy), K Govindarao( Anakapalli ( PV Ramana( Kondakarla), Swarna Vemaiah (Buchireddypalem SC), K Guruswamy Reddy (Kanigiri), Arutla Ramachandra Reddy (Bhongir), Dharma Bhiksham (Nalgonda), K Ramachandra Reddy ( Ramannapeta),
K Parvata Reddy ( Peddavura), Y Peddaiah (Devarakonda), Vithal Reddy ( Narsapur), NPV Mohanrao (Ghanpur), N Giriprasad( Khammam), Mohmad Tehsil (Bhadrachalam), Pula Subbaiah (Erragondapalem), Smt Arutla Kamala Devi ( Alair ), Smt K Ananda Devi (Medak) From CPM: Tarimela Nagireddy ( Putluru), Puchchalapalli Sundaraiah ( Gannavaram), Gunturu Bapanaiah ( Nidumolu), Tammina Potaraju (Vijayawada North),
Mande Pitchaiah (Payakaraopeta SC), S R Datla (Attili), Ganji Ramarao( Gudiwada SC), Koratala Satyannarayana ( Repalle), Evuri Subbarao (Kuchinapudi), Kommineni Venkateswarlu( Bapatla), Naraharisetty Venkataswamy (Parchuru), Sudanagunta Singaiah ( Ammanbrolu), Tavanam Chenchaiah (Santanutalapadu SC), AP Vajravelu
Setty( Kuppam), CK Adinayarayana Reddy (Pileru), KL Narasimha Rao( Yellandu), Parsa Satyannarayana( Palvancha), Kangala Butchaiah (Burgampahad), A Venkateswarlu (Narsampet), K Raghavulu, Uppala Malchur( Suryapet SC), Nandyala Srinivasa Reddy (Nakirekal), D Seetaramaiah (Madanapalle) From Swatantra Party: Gouthu Latchanna (Sompeta), P Rajagopala Naidu (Tavanam Palle), YC Veerabhadra Goud (Yemmiganur), S Appala Naidu (Golugonda), P Narayana Reddy ( Mydukuru), S Penchalaiah ( Koduru SC), CD Naidu (Chittoor), Mutyala Valasa Patrudu National Democrats: Tennenti Viswanatham (Madugula), Mudragada Veeraraghavarao (Prathipadu). Others : TRK Sarma (SSP Kurnool), Dr BVL Narayana(Ind. Ongole), Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah (Ind. Sattenapalli ).
The salient feature of politics is the unpredictability. In the general election in 1967, that ensued the resignations and agitation across the state, Communists lost ground in Andhra irretrievably. Despite factional fights, Congress emerged victorious with renewed vigour. In 1971 Prime Minster Indira Gandhi laid the foundation for the steel plant.
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