Will Naidu Take Jr NTR Into Politburo?

There has been talk for the last few days that the recent death of Nandamuri Harikrishna, former Telugu Desam Party MP and son of former chief minister N T Rama Rao, has brought the Nandamuri and Nara families together.

Right from the time of declaration of Harikrishna’s death to his cremation at Hyderabad the following day, TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had remained with Hakrishna’s family.

Though Naidu did not bother to look after the interests of Harikrishna when he was alive and had not invited him even to Mahanadu held at Vijayawada in May this year, he tried to create an impression among the people that Harikrishna was very close to his heart.

He was seen regularly talking to Harikrishna’s sons Junior N T Rama Rao and Kalyanram. And during the funeral procession, he even played the role of pallbearer.

At the same time, Harikrishna’s younger brother and actor-MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, who had hitherto been keeping away from the elder brother’s family, suddenly started being closer to Jr NTR and Kalyanram.

This has led to the speculation that Naidu tried to use the occasion to cajole Jr NTR, who had been angry with the former for his use-and-throw attitude.

Apparently, Naidu has felt that Jr NTR would become a big asset for the TDP in the coming elections, which is a sort of do-or-die battle for him.

Even if Jr NTR supports the TDP, if not campaign for it, it would get considerable mileage for the party.

It is learnt Naidu has also been under pressure from several sections of the party that Jr NTR be given a prominent position in the party as a mark of recognition to the services of Harikrishna to the party.

May be, Jr NTR could be taken into the politburo in place of Harikrishna, so that it would send a positive signal not only to the people, but also to NTR fans.

But the question is whether Naidu has the magnanimity to give such an important position to Jr NTR. At the most, he might request the young actor to play active role in the party and campaign for it.

If Jr NTR is keen on the politburo post, then Naidu might consider it, say sources.