05/28/08 ~ Early Tollywood

5.28.2008

The 86th birth anniversary celebrations of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and former chief minister N T Rama Rao on Wednesday proved to be forum for son N Balakrishna to conduct a trial run before plunging into active politics.

In Hyderabad, for the first time the entire family, barring Union minister of state for human resources D Purandareswari, participated in various activities held on the occasion Andhra studio. com. The surprise element was the active participation of Purandareswari’s husband and eldest son-in-law D Venkateswara Rao, Congress MLA, in the blood donation camp held at Basavatarakamma Memorial Cancer Hospital in Jubilee Hills.

The increased political role for the family members of NTR became evident in the manner in which they not only participated in the various programmes, but also vouched to take up any work given by the TDP to ensure its return to power in the next general election. In the absence of party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a 150-day Mee Kosam yatra, Balakrishna appeared to be playing a dominant role in organising the memorial function at NTR Ghat in the morning as well as conducting the blood donation camp at the cancer hospital.

Asked if this was a trial run before he takes a plunge into active politics, Balaiah said he was not new either to the party or the cadre and that he would soon take a decision about his entry into politics. Meanwhile, he said he would take up social activities on a large scale and would get closer to the people.

Replying to another question on whether he would invite his sister Purandareswari into TDP, Balakrishna said that she was welcome but the family would not ask her to do so Andhra Studio. com. "I'm proud to be NTR's son and I will work to promote his ideals. Not just me, the entire family will participate in my effort," he told the media.

Giving credence to the speculation that NTR's scions would foray into politics, junior NTR said that henceforth he would act in films with social messages propagated by his grandfather and said that he would be available for the party to take up any work if he was asked to do so. He said the only aim of the family was to bring back the earlier glory to the party.

The entire family—sons, daughters-in-law, grand children and NTR's daughter and Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari—was present at NTR ghat in the morning to offer floral tributes. Later, they went to the hospital and distributed fruits and milk to cancer patients. Another grandson released a book ‘KalyanramNayakudu-Kathanayakudu' on the life of NTR.

At the party office, TDP parliamentary party leader K Yerrannaidu and politburo member T Devender Goud held a meeting and recalled how NTR changed the political scenario both in the state as well as at the national level.

Giving a call to revive the spirit of NTR's policies and programmes he said promises like Rs 500 pension to the old and 12-hour free power being made by Naidu were discussed by the party politburo. "We are making promises which can be implemented," he said.