Jr. NTR should take over Telugu Desam Party: Lakshmi Parvathi

Hyderabad, August 24: Actor Jr NTR's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah has echoed in the family. Ms Lakshmi Parvathi, wife of former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam founder, N T Rama Rao has come out openly in support of Jr N T Rama Rao entering politics. Not only that, she wants Jr NTR to take over the Telugu Desam Party.

"I am one among those who feel Jr NTR should enter politics. He should join politics soon and take over the Telugu Desam party. The abbayi (my boy) has my blessings," she remarked. Lakshmi Parvathi happens to be step grandmother to Jr NTR since she married his grandfather N T Rama Rao after his wife's death.

Telugu Desam is passing through its worst phase and morale of the cadre is very low after it was routed by YSRCP led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and the party almost wiped out in Telangana State. Ageing former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and son Nara Lokesh are finding the going tough for the party in Andhra Pradesh.

Telugu Desam founded by actor N T Rama Rao was usurped in a coup by son in law Nara Chandrababu Naidu after NTR married Lakshmi Parvathi against family will. NTR promoted her in the party, which earned the wrath of Naidu and NTR family members. She was finally shunted out from the party and family.

YSRCP leader and Gudivada MLA, Kodali Nani, a close pal of Jr NTR, asserts Amit Shah-Jr NTR's was a political meeting and part of BJP's plans to expand in the country by winning on its own or gaining Opposition status.

"Amit Shah or Modi, if they invite or meet someone, it's purely political…not to congratulate them for the film etc. NTR is not a new actor. He has several films to his credit. Amit Shah and Modi don't waste a single minute on anyone if it doesn't benefit them politically, "he remarked.

Jr NTR like Lakshmi Parvathi faced a more or less similar situation in the family, but his success in films brought him back to family fold. Infact, after N T Rama Rao and N Balakrishna, Jr NTR is a top star, now pan India star, from NTR clan.

Ironically, Jr NTR is the only member in the family who has the oratory skills of his grandfather actor and politician N T Rama Rao. He even campaigned for Telugu Desamled by Chandrababu Naidu, but subsequently stayed away and focused on films.

Though Jr NTR remained tight-lipped after meeting Amit Shah in Hyderabad, his meeting created a huge stir in political circles, especially in Telugu Desam. Lakshmi Parvathi, who floated her own NTR Telugu Desam Party which bombed at the political box office, joined YSRCP led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and is presently, Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Telugu and Sanskrit Academy.

Infact, a BJP leader on condition of anonymity said that if BJP decides Jr NTR could also be put at the helm of affairs in Telugu Desam and seek his support if he is not keen on joining BJP.

Though it looks far-fetched, nothing could be ruled out in politics going by what has happened in Maharashtra where Shinde has been made Shiv Sena leader and Chief Minister.

Amit Shah, who has focused on building BJP in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other states, is trying to rope in popular film stars and people who matter into BJP fold in the run-up elections.