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Starry-eyed Naidu plans filmi campaign: The Pioneer
Hyderabad, Nov 14: Film-crazy Andharites are in for a surfeit of celluloid glamour and charisma. Come elections 2004, a galaxy of Telugu film stars will begin hitting the roads in Andhra Pradesh, knocking on doors to seek votes for the ruling Telugu Desam Party and its leader N Chandrababu Naidu.
Hyderabad, Nov 14: Film-crazy Andharites are in for a surfeit of celluloid glamour and charisma. Come elections 2004, a galaxy of Telugu film stars will begin hitting the roads in Andhra Pradesh, knocking on doors to seek votes for the ruling Telugu Desam Party and its leader N Chandrababu Naidu.
Even as the dates of the snap polls are yet to be finalised, the TDP bosses have swung into action to enlist as many Telugu film stars as possible for the election campaign. This, in a way, is an admission by the ruling party that the odds are high, the challenges tough and the claims of development and good-governance may not be enough.
While many film stars, old and new, would be part of the Naidu bandwagon, one name which has caught the imagination of all is that of Chiranjeevi. He is the biggest star of the Telugu screen. Chiranjeevi, who hails from coastal Andhra - so crucial to polls - belongs to the Kapu community. For a long time, it was being speculated that Chiranjeevi was about to take a plunge into politics and was planning to launch his own political party. But it is now crystal clear that the mega star has no such plans, at least for the immediate future. The indications, however, are that he is throwing his lot behind Mr Naidu. In this context, his meeting with the CM earlier this week has assumed significance.
Although both are mum over what they discussed, it is believed that the forthcoming elections figured in the meeting. This was Chiranjeevi's second visit to Mr Naidu's residence. Earlier, the star had called on the CM to enquire about his health immediately after the Naxalites attack on his motorcade.
Speculation abound that the TDP would be fielding some of the candidates of Chiranjeevi's liking. One such name doing the round is of well-known director Ashwini Dutt from the Vijaywada Lok Sabha constituency.
Another is, present TDP MP from Vijaywada, Gadde Ram Mohan Rao, who is said to be a likely candidate for the Assembly polls. Chiranjeevi, however, would not be actively campaigning for the TDP. Instead, his fan club members are likely to do the job for him.
Apart from Chiranjeevi, the other leading stars to feature in TDP's electioneering credit line include stars like Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Srikant, Srihari, Rajender Prasad, Soundarya and Ramya Krishna.
The most interesting names doing the rounds as possible campaigners for the TDP are, however, of Mohan Babu and Jayaprada, two estranged friends of Mr Naidu. Life will come full circle for Mohan Babu if he returns to Mr Naidu's fold in this election. After he fell out with Mr Naidu in 1997-98, Mohan Babu had launched a campaign against him, joining the BJP before going on a political sanyas.
Similarly, Jayaprada failed to renew her TDP membership after Mr Naidu refused her a second term in the Rajya Sabha. At one stage, she made no bones about the fact that she was planning to join the Congress or the BJP. But after the recent attempt on Mr Naidu's life, Jayaprada made up with him and visited his residence to wish him a fast recovery.
Sources said that the two are friends again and that Jayaprada may not hesitate to lend her support to the TDP.
The film personalities from the extended NTR clan will also be keenly watched - whether they support Mr Naidu or not. All eyes would be on NTR Jr, the grandson of TDP founder N T Rama Rao. NTR Jr, with striking similarities to his illustrious grandfather, and with several blockbusters under his belt, has emerged as the most successful Telugu star of the new generation.
Then there is his uncle and another son of NTR, Balakrishna, who has his own committed following and fan network all over the state. Balakrishna had not campaigned for the TDP in the last elections. But this time, Mr Naidu may go out of his way to bring his brother-in-law into the campaign.
As far as Harikrishna is concerned, who has made a dent of his own as an actor in recent times, he is unlikely to forgive Mr Naidu for the way he dumped him after using him in the palace coup of 1995 against NTR and making him a minister just for six months.
Mr Naidu has already deployed his trusted lieutenants in the industry - film director Raghvendra Rao, Murli Mohan and D Rama Naidu, who is also a TDP MP - to use their clout and bring the stars and starlets to the TDP campaign trail.
While many film stars, old and new, would be part of the Naidu bandwagon, one name which has caught the imagination of all is that of Chiranjeevi. He is the biggest star of the Telugu screen. Chiranjeevi, who hails from coastal Andhra - so crucial to polls - belongs to the Kapu community. For a long time, it was being speculated that Chiranjeevi was about to take a plunge into politics and was planning to launch his own political party. But it is now crystal clear that the mega star has no such plans, at least for the immediate future. The indications, however, are that he is throwing his lot behind Mr Naidu. In this context, his meeting with the CM earlier this week has assumed significance.
Although both are mum over what they discussed, it is believed that the forthcoming elections figured in the meeting. This was Chiranjeevi's second visit to Mr Naidu's residence. Earlier, the star had called on the CM to enquire about his health immediately after the Naxalites attack on his motorcade.
Speculation abound that the TDP would be fielding some of the candidates of Chiranjeevi's liking. One such name doing the round is of well-known director Ashwini Dutt from the Vijaywada Lok Sabha constituency.
Another is, present TDP MP from Vijaywada, Gadde Ram Mohan Rao, who is said to be a likely candidate for the Assembly polls. Chiranjeevi, however, would not be actively campaigning for the TDP. Instead, his fan club members are likely to do the job for him.
Apart from Chiranjeevi, the other leading stars to feature in TDP's electioneering credit line include stars like Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Srikant, Srihari, Rajender Prasad, Soundarya and Ramya Krishna.
The most interesting names doing the rounds as possible campaigners for the TDP are, however, of Mohan Babu and Jayaprada, two estranged friends of Mr Naidu. Life will come full circle for Mohan Babu if he returns to Mr Naidu's fold in this election. After he fell out with Mr Naidu in 1997-98, Mohan Babu had launched a campaign against him, joining the BJP before going on a political sanyas.
Similarly, Jayaprada failed to renew her TDP membership after Mr Naidu refused her a second term in the Rajya Sabha. At one stage, she made no bones about the fact that she was planning to join the Congress or the BJP. But after the recent attempt on Mr Naidu's life, Jayaprada made up with him and visited his residence to wish him a fast recovery.
Sources said that the two are friends again and that Jayaprada may not hesitate to lend her support to the TDP.
The film personalities from the extended NTR clan will also be keenly watched - whether they support Mr Naidu or not. All eyes would be on NTR Jr, the grandson of TDP founder N T Rama Rao. NTR Jr, with striking similarities to his illustrious grandfather, and with several blockbusters under his belt, has emerged as the most successful Telugu star of the new generation.
Then there is his uncle and another son of NTR, Balakrishna, who has his own committed following and fan network all over the state. Balakrishna had not campaigned for the TDP in the last elections. But this time, Mr Naidu may go out of his way to bring his brother-in-law into the campaign.
As far as Harikrishna is concerned, who has made a dent of his own as an actor in recent times, he is unlikely to forgive Mr Naidu for the way he dumped him after using him in the palace coup of 1995 against NTR and making him a minister just for six months.
Mr Naidu has already deployed his trusted lieutenants in the industry - film director Raghvendra Rao, Murli Mohan and D Rama Naidu, who is also a TDP MP - to use their clout and bring the stars and starlets to the TDP campaign trail.