Balakrishna to contest from Hindupur Assembly seat

Ending months of suspense, Telugu Desam Party founder late N.T. Rama Rao’s son and film star Nandamuri Balakrishna has decided to take the plunge into electoral politics. He will contest from Hindupur in Anantapur district, a constituency that was represented by his father in the past. He will file his nomination on April 16. The decision comes after Mr. Balakrishna’s detailed deliberations with TDP president and his brother-in-law N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Naidu’s stand

The discussion reportedly centred on whether the film star should contest in the forthcoming elections or confine himself to campaigning for TDP candidates. Mr. Naidu is understood to have favoured Mr. Balakrishna entering the electoral fray.

Meanwhile, names of some senior leaders of Congress and erstwhile Praja Rajyam who switched loyalties to the TDP figured in the second list of 40 candidates for Assembly.

Former MLAs from the Congress — Thota Trimurthulu, B. Satyananda Rao, Sridhar Krishna Reddy, J.C. Prabhakar Reddy, Galla Aruna Kumari, P. Srinivasulu Reddy and G. Kutuhalamma — were among others who were given tickets for Assembly elections. The party retained senior leaders like Nallagatla Swamy Das, D. Narendra Kumar, Alapati Rajendra Prasad, Prathipati Pulla Rao, Divi Sivaram, Y. Srinivasa Rao and Damacharla Janardhan in their respective constituencies.

Mr. Naidu, who handed over the B-forms to the respective candidates, administered a pledge to the party’s nominees at his residence.