NTR Issue: Leadership Clear, Cadre Must Understand

An audio file allegedly the phone call between TDP Anantapur Urban MLA Daggubati Venkateswara Prasad and a TNSF leader surfaced on the social media.

In the audio, the MLA is seen abusing Junior NTR for talking negative on Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu.

The MLA is seen saying he will not allow the movie to release in Anantapur.

On multiple occasions, several severely objectionable words have been used.

The MLA released a video saying that he is not at all involved and he always respects the Nara and Nandamuri families.

NTR fans of Anantapur have staged a protest before the MLA’s house demanding a public apology.

It is clearly established that a Troll handle belonging to YSR Congress Social Media is involved in this leak. YSR Congress leaders including Roja and their affiliated channels are already on ground trying to make use of this situation.

Keeping that aside, the kind of language used against NTR in the audio is atrocious and condemnable.

Junior NTR fans on various social media platforms are demanding that Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh suspend the MLA.

The issue has started when Lokesh posted a Tweet wishing Rajinikanth’s Coolie.

NTR fans felt that Lokesh intentionally tried to promote their rival film against NTR’s War 2.

NTR made indirect comments about it at the film’s Pre-release Event.

He spoke about how no one except his father and mother were beside him when he started his career. That has hurt some Nandamuri fans who supported NTR right from the start.

This issue is an extension of that.

There are some speculations that TDP cadres in many areas stayed away from War 2 after that comments of NTR but there is no evidence to quantify that.

The MLA seems to be upset as well but the kind of language he used against NTR is completely unwanted.

Also that warning of not allowing the film to run is also too much. It is a different story that War 2 released in Anantapur without any problems.

TDP Leaders and Cadres should understand that there is some issue between NTR and Nandamuri family.

It is their personal and it should be allowed to stay like that.

Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh were clear about how to deal with NTR. They have no expectations on him with respect to anything related to the party.

They did not complain when NTR did not condemn Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest or when a section of NTR fans supported YSR Congress in the last two elections.

They are not even expecting him to show any special love towards the party or help the party in any way.

At the same time, they are clear about treating NTR as equal to other actors in the industry.

After what Jagan did to the industry in the last five years, Chandrababu Naidu had taken a stand that producers are best to decide what is good or what is bad for their films. Accordingly, the hikes and special shows are being permitted as per their request.

Both Devara and War 2 received the hikes and Special Shows permission they requested for.

As far as the party and the government is concerned, it is a strictly professional relationship without any favoritism or discrimination.

If the leaders and cadres do not understand this, they are only creating unnecessary headaches for the party like how this MLA did now.

Issues like this will only divert the public attention from important issues and give fodder for the Opposition and its ecosystem. And TDP leaders and cadres are playing into their hands unknowingly if they talk rubbish like this.