Hyderabad/Vijayawada, Jan 18 (IANS): Rich tributes were paid to TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao on his 21st death anniversary on Wednesday.

NTR's sons N. Harikrishna, N. Balakrishna, grandsons Junior NTR, Kalyanram and other family members and leader of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) paid floral tributes at NTR Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

The late leader's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, daughter Bhuwaneswari, wife of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and her daughter-in-law Brahmini also visited NTR Ghat to pay tributes.

Balakrishna, a leading Telugu actor and TDP legislator, garlanded NTR's statue at Rasoolpura junction and launched Amar Jyothi rally which concluded at NTR Ghat.

Speaking on the occasion, he said NTR was the greatest leader, who fought for self-respect of Telugu people, worked relentlessly for the welfare of poor and backwards sections of society and launched many revolutionary schemes.

Balakrishna said TDP founded by NTR was not merely a political party but a system. He claimed that no other party has such a huge cadre base.

He added the TDP would bring pressure on the central government to confer country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on NTR.

Popular actor Junior NTR said though NTR physically left this world 21 years ago, he would always remain in the hearts of Telugu people.

Chandrababu Naidu's son and TDP leader N. Lokesh paid tributes to NTR in Vijayawada and inaugurated NTR Museum on the occasion.

Legendary actor NTR had launched TDP in 1982 on the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of Congress in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He died on January 18, 1996, a few months after Naidu led a revolt in the party and became the Chief Minister.