HYDERABAD: Nandamuri Balakrishna is all set to enter active politics in 2014. “Besides campaigning for the TDP, I will also contest the elections in 2014,” the actor said in Vijayawada Saturday.
Though TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu planned to field Balakrishna in the 2009 elections, he changed his mind and used him as a star campaigner instead.
“I have campaigned for the TDP in several elections. But this time I will contest the elections too,” Balakrishna told reporters in Vijayawada.
The son of N T Rama Rao said his decision to enter electoral politics was inspred by the contribution of his father to the state. Asked whether any other member of the NTR family would contest in the 2014 elections, Balakrishna said: “We are not forcing anyone.” He hastened to add that the other members of the family are busy with their respective avocations.
Balakrishna may opt for the Hindupur seat, once represented in the Assembly by his father. However, he said, “I will contest any Assembly seat as directed by the party. If the party wants me to contest in Telangana, I am prepared for it.”
Balakrishna was in Vijayawada to celebrate the success of his latest hit, Sri Ramarajyam. He is scheduled to participate in a motorcycle rally in Krishna district on Sunday. The rally will start at 11 am at Kodali and culminate in Ghantasala, where the star will unveil a statue of N T Ramarao.
Talk of Balakrishna’s electoral debut has been in the air for some time now. On Saturday, at a meeting organised by Chandrababu Naidu in Tirupati, some students raised slogans like “future CM Balayya”. However, party sources said Balakrishna has no ambitions of supplanting the TDP president in the race to the chief minister’s chair.
There have been rumours in the past that Balakrishna would replace his elder brother Harikrishna in the TDP politburo.
Interestingly, Harikrishna attended the TDP politburo meeting on Saturday after a long time.