After a stifling repression period between 1985-89 under the Telugu Desam Party rule, the newly elected Indian National Congress government allowed a little relaxation for a short period after December 1989.
Varavara Rao, along with a number of intellectuals and people's organisations stood in the forefront in exposing and resisting the globalisation policies of Chandrababu Naidu who came to power in 1994.