The Nandamuri Balakrishna Fans Association has launched a campaign seeking their film hero, Balakrishna, to take over the reins of the TDP from its present incumbent and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
According to the association convener BBG Tilak, the campaign was simultaneously launched at Warangal in Telangana and Hindupur in Rayalaseema and Eluru in the coastal Andhra regions on Tuesday, pitching for a change of leadership in the TDP. The next phase of the campaign would be decided within a few days based on response from the top brass, he added. He informed that the fans association had decided to send a delegation to Mr. Naidu as part of pursuing their agenda.
The fans staged a demonstration with a vinyl hung from the statue of N.T. Rama Rao at the busy fire station centre which appeals to Mr. Naidu to allow Mr. Balakrishna to play a greater role, nothing short of the president, in the party in the run-up to the elections. They raised slogans in commemoration of NTR and in praise of Mr. Balakrishna. Mr. Tilak held the alleged isolation of the NTR descendants from the TDP after his death responsible for its alleged rout twice successively in the 2004 and 2009 elections under the stewardship of Mr. Chandrababu Naidu. NTR had declared Mr. Balakrishna as his heir apparent in politics and in the film world during an election campaign in Madanapalle in Chittoor district in the mid 80s.
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However, his wish failed to become a reality in course of time, he regretted. Meanwhile, the TDP ranks played it safe and stayed away from the campaign.