The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP leader’s luncheon meet raises eyebrows

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Sunday, Apr 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP leader’s luncheon meet raises eyebrows

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Political significance is being attached to a luncheon meeting that Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu hosted at his residence here on Saturday for his relatives in the Nandamuri clan who are in the film world. The meeting that lasted slightly over an hour is viewed in political circles as an attempt by the TDP leader to marshal resources in the film world in favour of the Telugu Desam to counter the possible impact of the proposed entry of megastar Chiranjeevi into politics.

The guests

The guests who made an unobtrusive entry into Mr. Naidu’s residence around noon in separate vehicles included Rajya Sabha member and TDP Polit Bureau member N. Harikrishna, his sons Taraka Rama Rao (popular as Junior NTR) and Kalyan Ram and N. Balakrishna. All of them are active in the film industry. When asked about the nature of the discussions, Mr. Naidu brushed aside the question by stating that the media had a tendency to give political colour to any such meeting. He said it was a routine gathering of family members who were otherwise busy in daily life.

Notwithstanding the defence by party sources about the luncheon meet being a plain-and-simple family gathering, TDP leaders did not miss the point that ‘Junior NTR’ did not even make it to the wedding of Mr. Naidu’s son Lokesh with Mr. Balakrishna’s daughter last year.

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