Babu chooses Balayya to checkmate Jagan

V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 13 Sep 2011 12:03:41 PM IST

HYDERABAD: Actor Balakrishna’s announcement on Sunday that he would contest the Assembly elections in 2014 and take an active part in the  affairs of Telugu Desam is being viewed as part of party president N Chandrababu Naidu’s strategy to strengthen the party in coastal districts where Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is making inroads.
  Political analysts feel that Balakrishna made the announcement only after obtaining the nod from Naidu.
  Naidu, who has strained relations with some members of the family of party founder and former chief minister NT Rama Rao, wants to project Balakrishna as an icon of the family by bringing him to the forefront.  According to Naidu’s calculations, Balakrishna’s plunge into electoral politics will help the party revive its sagging spirits. The main opposition party has been facing several problems including mass desertions by its leaders and MLAs.
 As of now, the party is worried over the YSR Congress making incursions into its traditional strongholds and Naidu is intent on arresting it before it will be too late. Naidu, analysts say, has chosen Balakrishna to do the job since the son of NTR has the mass appeal and will be able to wean away the youth who are coming under  Jagan’s spell in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
 The actor has a strong fan following in Anantapur, Nellore, Chittoor and Kurnool districts in Rayalaseema and in several districts in Andhra. His entry into electoral politics is also likely to trigger a `caste war’ during the next elections.
 Jagan and Balakrishna represent the two dominant castes which have been dominating the state politics for a long time.At the ground level the TDP cadre across the state are jubilant over  Balakrishna’s decision to enter into active politics. They burst crackers heralding his plunge at several places on Sunday soon after his announcement.
 TDP MLA P Keshav said: “Balakrishna can contest any seat from Anantapur district. I will vacate my Uravakonda seat if he wants to contest from there. For that matter, any MLA will come forward to make room for Balakrishna.
  Another MLA and president of Krishna district TDP D Umamaheswara Rao too made a similar offer. “Balakrishna can contest from any Assembly constituency in Krishna district. He is most welcome,” he said.
  Asked for his reaction, Chandrababu Naidu said Balakrishna was helping the party and even campaigned for it in the 2009 elections. “It is nothing new. Balakrishna has worked for the party in the past. If he is willing to serve more by plunging into active politics, he is most welcome. As party president I will honour him and encourage him,” he said.