With four days to go for elections of office-bearers of the Movie Artists Association (MAA), the panel headed by comedian-character actor Rajendra Prasad, who is contesting for the post of president, suffered a setback when two members, Sivaji Raja and Uttej, contesting for the posts of general secretary and joint secretary, respectively, announced that they were not in the race anymore.
On Wednesday, Mr. Sivaji Raja and Mr. Uttej dropped out of the contest. Although their names would be on the ballot paper, they would not campaign, it is said. This development is being viewed as one that increased the chances of actor-turned-politician Jayasudha becoming MAA president. Ms. Jayasudha is supported by three-time president M. Murali Mohan, actor-producer and former Member of Parliament Manchu Mohan Babu and filmmaker and former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao.
Siva Krishna and Manchu Lakshmi are unanimously elected as vice-president from Ms. Jayasudha’s panel. The polling on March 29 would be to elect the president, general secretary, executive vice-president, treasurer, two joint secretaries and 18 executive committee members.
Mr. Rajendra Prasad is being propped up by megastar-turned Rajya Sabha member K. Chiranjeevi and his brother K. Naga Babu. Other members of Mr. Prasad’s panel are Kalyan (vice-president), Sivaji Raja (general secretary), Chakrapani (treasurer), Bhoopal and Uttej (joint secretaries).
It may be recalled that Murali Mohan had defeated Rajendra Prasad in the race seven years ago.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ms. Jayasudha said that ever since her candidature was announced, she was under pressure from political quarters asking her to get out of the fray. This, she said, made her determined and hence she was contesting. Interestingly, she is the first woman to contest as president.
Panel headed by character actor Rajendra Prasad suffers a setback with two of its members, Sivaji Raja and Uttej, announcing that they are not in the
race anymore
