Balakrishna adds glamour to People's Front campaign in Telangana

Hitting the streets in Hyderabad, popular Telugu actor and TDP legislator N. Balakrishna added further glamour to the campaign by the Congress-led People's Front in Telangana.

Son of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder N. T. Rama Rao, Balakrishna was conducting road shows.

Like his brother-in-law and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Chandrababu Naidu, he focussed on constituencies in and around Hyderabad, which have sizeable number of voters with roots in Andhra Pradesh.

Popular as 'Balayya' in film circles, the actor conducted road shows for a second consecutive day on Sunday, addressing his fans and TDP supporters in his trademark style.

The TDP, a constituent of the People's Front, is contesting 13 seats in the 119-member Assembly.

Balakrishna will also campaign for his niece N. Suhasini in Kukatpally constituency. Popular young actor and Suhasini's brother Junior NTR is also likely to hit the roads in her favour. Her cousin and actor Taraka Ratna was already campaigning for her.

People's Front is the only contender for power using film stars for its campaign. Veteran actress Vijayashanti, who was the among first women superstars from south and referred to as 'Lady Amitach', was campaigning aggressively for the Congress and its allies. Another actress of yesteryears and Congress leader Khushboo too has joined the campaign.

Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, recently named Working President of the Telangana unit of the Congress, conducted road shows for the alliance candidates.

Film star Bandla Ganesh, who joined Congress recently, also campaigned for the alliance.

The Congress has named another former actress Nagma as one of its star campaigners. She too is likely to plunge into campaigning for the December 7 elections .

Former Maoist sympathizer and balladeer Gaddar is also adding colour to the People's Front campaign.

Sharing dais with Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the revolutionary singer is striking immediate chord with the people by singing few lines from his popular songs to target the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The campaign by TRS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no celebrity at the state level. However, the BJP has fielded a starlet Reshma Rathore as its candidate from Wyra constituency in Khammam district.

--IANS

ms/mr