CHANDRABABU NAIDU TELLS BRITISH TELUGU NRIs THAT A P WAS THE BEST DESTINATION TO MAKE INVESTMENTS

Andhra Pradesh is the most suitable State after Gujarat for making investments, according to former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu.

Addressing the Telugu community at East Home Bullion Cinema Hall, London, on Saturday, he said it was during his party’s rule that Hyderabad was put on the world map with emphasis on education and IT.

As a consequence, top institutions like Indian School of Business and IIIT were established in the city, and those like IIT and BITS Pilani were coming now, Naidu stated.

Many Indians, including a large number of Telugus, were present to hear the TDP leader who is visiting the British capital for the first time.

Naidu expressed confidence that his past 'good work' and 'struggle against corruption' in the State would pay dividends for the TDP in the ensuing elections. Party leaders E Peddi Reddy, M V Mysoora Reddy, Venkata Rao and C M Ramesh, and NRI TDP leaders were among those who attended, according to a press release.

PEOPLE ANGRY WITH POLITICAL PARTIES FOR NOT GIVING KALAM A SECOND TERM, SAYS CHANDRABABU NAIDU

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu claimed on Saturday that the people were angry with political parties, who were not extending support to President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term for the Presidential post.

Talking to newspersons in Hyderabad, he said the people of the country favoured a second term for Dr Kalam, who was a man of the masses, and UNPA leaders had approached almost all the parties for their support for the President.

However, Naidu said the UNPA would not support the candidature of the Presidential nominees of the UPA and the NDA. He said the TDP would serve the public through the NTR Trust. NTR memorial schools and hospitals would be established in every district, and NRIs would be involved in the programme, he added.

Later, the TDP Chief inaugurated a mobile health van for providing medical assistance to the poor people as part of the NTR Trust Social Service.

HAS CHANDRABABU NAIDU PLANNED HIS US TRIP TO CASH IN ON BALAKRISHNA'S POPULARITY?

Let's make one thing clear right at the outset. Chandrababu Naidu has a way of planting stories in the media. For two reasons. One, he has the media in his pocket. And two, he does it so subtly that even the seasoned journalists can't figure out his moves. The latest rumour which is doing the rounds is that Balakrishna might accompany Chandrababu Naidu on his US visit at the end of the month. While Balakrishna is going to attend the TANA conference, what is Naidu going to do there, we wonder. Piggyback on Balakrishna's popularity? In normal circumstances, they would have been miles away from each other's reach. And Naidu wouldn't even be crossing the path of any member of the NTR family. But, now Naidu is ploughing a lonely furrow in terms of popularity, and he has no choice but to cash in Balakrishna's soaring popularity in the US of A. And get some mileage for the sagging image of the party in the eyes of the people. Therefore, it is reported, that he has been using all his clout to muster the goodwill and popularity of the Non-Resident Telugus in the US to boost his image. And that is what Naidu desperately needs back home to kick off his electoral campaign. And Balakrishna becomes the best bait for him, especially now after their bonding becoming stronger with Chandrababu's son Lokesh's engagement to take place with Balakrishna's daughter Brahmani in the last week of August. Towards this end, we are told, that Naidu even "arranged" an invite through his contacts in TANA. Quite possible. For you can never underestimate the guile of Chandrababu Naidu. He knows where to sow his wild oats. And if the opportunities are not ripe in India, which they are definitely not, as everything he touches is bouncing back on him, he would start from abroad. But, will he be successful in taming Balakrishna? That is the million-dollar question right now.

Photo of Lokesh and Brahmani, the most-talked about couple in Andhra today

Balakrishna will enter politics soon, says Tarakaratna

A day after Nandamuri Balakrishna announced that he was not averse to joining politics if his fans want him to, his nephew Nandamuri Tarakaratna has said yesterday that his uncle would definitely enter politics some day. But we can't say when exactly, he added. Tarakaratna attended a party function in Cuddapah district yesterday. And speaking on the occasion, he told the people that Balakrishna would definitely enter politics and it was very soon.

Are you not ashamed of using my father's name? NTR's daughter Purandeshwari's letter missive to Chandrababu Naidu

N T Rama Rao's daughter and Daggubati Venkateswara Rao's wife Purandeswari has spewed venom on N Chandrababu for shamelessly using her father's name on the occasion of the party's silver jubilee celebrations. In a letter addressed to Chandrababu Naidu, she said, "You have conspired against him and snatched power from him. You didn't allow him to talk in the Assembly, and as a result for the first time in his life he bowed his head and walked away." Continuing her attack on Naidu, she said, "Are you not ashamed of using his name to pursue your interests? Especially when, in his last days, NTR had only contempt for you?"
She had a word of advice for Naidu, "Stop using NTR's name, lest people would not tolerate you."
And she had a word of advise for her brother Harikrishna too. "Harikrishna too should remember the humiliation Chandrababu has heaped on our father."

Are you listening Mr Harikrishna?

NTR's Karna a hit in US

Even in his death, N T Rama Rao continues to live in the hearts of the Telug people. And such is his popularity that his films are still seen with fascination by the Telugus both in India and abroad. Right now, one of his films -- Dana Veera Sura Karna -- which was produced and directed by him, besides playing three roles, that of Krishna, Karna and Duryodhana, is slated for release in Freemont, USA. Earlier, it has run to packed houses in Detroit and Richmond. Surely, the distributor who has bought the rights of the film knows where to put his money. For, it is the perfect timing with the Telugu Desam celebrating its silver jubilee and NTR's birthday falling at the same time.

Is Lokesh marrying Balakrishna's daughter?

It is a rumour that has been doing the rounds for more than six months now. That Chandrababu Naidu, who has been alienated from the NTR family, has been desperately making efforts to mend fences with NTR's family members. As a first step in that direction, it is said, he has opened the doors of TDP to Harikrishna. And now, we have been hearing that Naidu is harping on his son Lokesh marry Balakrishna's daughter. But, it is believed, that Balakrishna is not very enthu about the idea. And so, we hear, the proposal has been hanging in the balance. Now, a fresh rumour is doing the rounds that Balakrishna has indeed yielded to Naidu's requests and that the engagement has also taken place. But we are not sure whether it is true or not. Only time will tell.

Whom are you trying to bullshit Mr Naresh?

The other day I was reading a film magazine. And it carried a news item on Naresh. No, not Attili Sattibabu LKG. I'm talking about Naresh senior, who faded out of the industry, and joined BJP so that at least the cadre would not forget him. According to political circles, he was doing quite well when the BJP was in the power at the centre, and when it was tailing along with the Telugu Desam in the state. And a euphoric Naresh too was in no mood to turn his attention towards the film industry. But, now that the BJP is directionless in the state, and the TDP too distancing itself from it, Naresh seems to have realised that the party has no chance of staging a comeback whatsoever, especially after its disastrous performance in Uttar Pradesh. So, he has turned his attention towards films once again.

And this is what he has to say. "Although I entered politics unexpectedly, (note his words unexpectedly not out of choice), I received good recognition. So, I was away from films. The folks in the Telugu film industry thought I wouldn't do films any more. So, they stopped approaching me. But, acting is my first priority. I've turned my attention away from films a little. Now I want to spend more time in front of the camera."

The point is if he has received good response from the people, why does he want to stray away from politics? Two, who was interested in him, that warrants him to give an explanation? Three, how can he turn his attention away from politics a little and spend more time in films? If you turn your attention a little from politics, it means you devote little attention to films and not vice versa. Whom are trying to bullshit Mr Naresh? Why don't you admit that BJP is down in the dumps in the state, and that you don't have any hope that the party will be able to stage a comeback. It would have been gracious of you, instead of giving bull like 'I still like politics but I like films more.' Anyway, are there any takers for this not so young man?