Balayya invokes Telugu pride, strikes an emotional chord

Actor-politician kick-starts TDP’s poll campaign with a series of public meetings

Invoking Telugu cultural pride to boost the morale of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) cadres, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna struck an emotional chord with his audience referring to Gautamiputra Satakarni, a 1st Century AD Satavahana ruler, after unveiling the statue of his father and TDP patriarch late N.T. Rama Rao at Dendukuru in Madhira mandal on Monday.

Mr Balakrishna, who donned the role of Gautamiputra Satakarni in the Telugu blockbuster based on the life of the valiant king last year, reeled off the characters of kings and freedom fighters essayed by his father and matinee idol N.T. Rama Rao and himself in various Telugu movies highlighting the pride of Telugu people.

The Tollywood actor, who represents Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, kick-started TDP’s election campaign amid much fanfare in poll-bound Telangana by addressing a series of roadside meetings in the district on Monday.

Wave of nostalgia

Addressing an well-turned-out meeting at Dendukuru earlier in the day, Mr Balakrishna tried to reconnect with ardent fans of his father by narrating his illustrious life as a legendary actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Rama Rao contributed his mite to highlight the pride of Telugu people across the world, abolished the Patel-Patwari system in Telangana, paving the way for emancipation of weaker sections from the clutches of the feudal forces, he said amid wide applause from the audience.

Telangana is the land of valiant freedom fighters like Komaram Bheem and renowned poets such as Kaloji Narayana Rao, he said, adding TDP will strive to uphold the State’s rich literary and cultural heritage.

‘TDP bound to win’

Listing out the plethora of welfare and development programmes implemented by the N.T. Rama Rao and Chandrababu Naidu regimes in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said the TDP is bound to emerge triumphant along with its allies against the TRS in the elections.

Later, he unveiled NTR’s statues at Narayanapuram in Bonakal mandal, Thallada and various other places in Sattupalli constituency. He led a huge bike rally from Thallada to Sattupalli late in the evening to muster public support for the party in Sattupalli constituency.

TDP polit bureau member Nama Nageswara Rao, party State unit president L. Ramana and former Sattupalli MLA S. Venkata Veeraiah accompanied Mr Balakrishna to the meetings.