Actors G. Rajendra Prasad and Sivaji Raja were on Friday declared elected as president and general secretary of the Movie Artists Association (MAA), bringing to an end weeks-long high-voltage campaign that made the MAA office-bearers election look more like a general election.
Around noon, Returning Officer Krishnamohan declared Mr. Rajendra Prasad elected as president with a majority of 85 votes against rival Jayasudha, and Mr. Sivaji Raja as general secretary with a majority of 34 votes against rival Ali. Only 394 of the total of 702 members came to vote on March 29.
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On Friday, counting was taken up after the Court dismissed a petition by producer O. Kalyan, who alleged irregularities in the process, and gave the go-ahead for counting and declaration of results. The area around the Film Chamber was full of people, including curious on-lookers wishing to have a look at stars, and police put in place a heavy bandobust.
After Rajendra Prasad was declared elected, he addressed the motley crowd saying he would take up the responsibility seriously and work for the welfare of the film community, particularly those who are less privileged than the more successful ones.
Writer-director-actor Tanikella Bharani became executive vice-president, beating his opponent O. Kalyan with a majority of 168 votes.
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Other office-bearers declared elected include Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao as treasurer, and two joint secretaries - Raghu Babu and senior Naresh.
Manchu Mohan Babu’s daughter, Lakshmi, and Sivakrishna were elected unanimously, as vice-presidents. Several factors, including political, went into the MAA elections this time and members were divided into two camps representing Mr. Murali Mohan and Rajya Sabha Member Chiranjeevi. Caste and regional affiliations, the latter arising out of bifurcation of erstwhile AP, added new dimensions. Ms. Jayasudha was the first woman to contest for MAA presidency, thus far and was supported by M. Murali Mohan, three-time president.
Mr. Rajendra Prasad on the other hand was backed by K. Nagendra Babu, brother of star-turned-politician, Chiranjeevi. Interestingly, Mr. Murali Mohan had, seven years ago, defeated Mr. Rajendra Prasad.