Balakrishna to contest for assembly from Hindupur

Hyderabad, April 12:

Popular Telugu actor N. Balakrishna will contest the assembly election from Hindupur constituency in Seemandhra on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket.

TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu gave the green signal to his brother-in-law at a meeting with him here Saturday. This ended the suspense continuing for several weeks over the constituency.

Balakrishna, son of TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, also held a meeting with sitting legislator from Hindupur Abdul Gani and other TDP leaders from Anantapur district. He will file nomination April 16, party sources said.

Celebrations broke out in in Hindupur in as the actor’s fans took to streets, burst firecrackers and distributed sweets. Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and assembly in Seemandhra are scheduled May 7.

Balaiah, as the actor is popular among his fans, had announced his entry into politics two years ago but was not active in the party.

He recently expressed his intent to contest the elections and declared that he will continue in active politics to fulfil ideals of his father.

Hindupur is considered a safe seat for the TDP as the party never lost it since its inception in 1983.

NTR, as N.T. Rama Rao was popularly known, was elected from Hindupur in Anantapur district in 1985, 1989 and 1994. His elder son N. Harikrishna was elected in 1996 by-polls, caused by NTR’s death.

Harikrishna, a politburo member of TDP, fell out with Naidu after the latter started promoting his son Lokesh as his successor. Harikrishna is reportedly keen to see his son and young actor Junior NTR take reins of the party.

Balaiah, whom NTR had once described as his political heir, had campaigned for the TDP in 2009 elections. The 53-year-old’s daughter is also married to Naidu’s son.

Legendary actor NTR had created a record by leading TDP to power within nine months after floating the party. He died in 1996, a few months after his son-in-law Naidu led a revolt.

(IANS