When erstwhile Screen Idol N.T. Rama Rao, 61, was dismissed as chief minister of India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh last month, an eruption of protests left 53 dead and hundreds injured. With national elections due to be held by mid-January, many Indians saw his ouster as another in a string of attempts by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to bring down state governments run by her opponents. Although Mrs. Gandhi denied any role in the removal of Rama Rao, the rising opposition has clearly been damaging to her Congress (I) Party. Last week the state governor, a political ally of...
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