NTR’s son Balakrishna hints at entering politics

By IANS

Hyderabad : N. Balakrishna, Popular Telugu film actor and son of late thespian and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, Monday said he might join politics at an appropriate time.


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He said his priority for now is films, but he did not rule out entering politics in future. He was responding to queries from his fans at a function in Kakinada to pay tributes to NTR on his 85th birth anniversary.

Family members, party leaders and fans paid rich tributes to NTR, who founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), currently Andhra Pradesh's main opposition.

NTR's son-in-law and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu paid tributes to the leader at the temple town of Tirupati at the party's 25th Mahanadu or annual convention. Another son of NTR, Harikrishna, a TDP leader, was also present.

Balakrishna's comments about his entry into politics are significant as only two days ago it was announced that Naidu's son Lokesh will marry Balakrishna's daughter Brahmnai.

The alliance was also being seen in some circles as an attempt by Naidu to put a halt to Balakrishna's political ambitions and at the same get closer to the NTR family.

Balakrishna's comments are not new. On Jan 18, the death anniversary of his father, he had said that he could make a surprise entry into politics, just like NTR did in 1982.

NTR, who enjoyed the status of a demigod in the state, had come to power in the state within nine months of launching the TDP.

Naidu had led a revolt against NTR in 1995, a year after he returned to power with a thumping majority. NTR died of a heart attack in 1996.

With none of NTR's eight sons matching his charisma, Naidu strengthened his position as his political successor. He still uses NTR's name to garner public support. NTR figures prominently in the TDP's publicity material and party meetings are held with huge pictures of NTR in the backdrop.

Meanwhile, NTR's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, whose interference in party affairs and administration in 1995 led to Naidu's revolt, Monday paid tributes to NTR at his memorial in Hyderabad.

Parvathi, who went into political oblivion after her husband's death, alleged that Naidu had "backstabbed" NTR to grab power but now that he is in opposition is using his name to come back to power.

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