The statement made by Nandamuri Taraka Ratna, another grandson of legendary actor and former chief minister N T Rama Rao, that his cousin Jr NTR will definitely campaign for the Telugu Desam Party in the next assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, has led to an interesting discussion in the media groups.
First of all, not many people are aware who this Taraka Ratna is.
Though he is NTR’s grandson (son of NTR’s son Nandamuri Mohana Krishna), he is not a very popular actor like Jr NTR and doesn’t have any major hits to his credit.
So, one doesn’t know whether his statements have any face value. Secondly, Taraka Ratna is no spokesman for Jr NTR, though both of them are first cousins.
Jr NTR has his own plans and political line, which he only can decide.
It is an open secret within NTR’s family and also the TDP politics why Jr NTR, after playing such a major role in the TDP in 2009-10, suddenly went into political oblivion.
Everybody knows he was peeved at the way TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu used and thrown him after his purpose was served.
So, in the given circumstances, it is doubtful if Jr NTR would return to active politics and campaign for the TDP to bring Naidu to power.
Especially after seeing how Naidu’s followers have trolled him in social media for being diplomatic in his criticism against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra, Jr NTR may not come to Naidu’s rescue in 2024.
Maybe, Taraka Ratna made the statement to fulfil his own political ambitions.
He has already declared that he would contest the next elections in Andhra Pradesh and he might be expecting support from Jr NTR for his victory.
“Nandamuri family members do not crave for posts or positions, because the entire party belongs to them. They will go to any extent to safeguard the party,” he said.
