Praja Rajyam

GUNTUR: Chandrababu Naidu has once again proved that he has full command over the TDP affairs and there are no immediate threats to his leadership from the Nandamuri family. He led the Yuvagarjana meeting here on Wednesday in his own `indomitable style’ and no one questioned it – even NTR’s sons Balaiah and Harikrishna who sat along with him on the dais. Though it has been expected that Balaiah would take the lead and hog the limelight at Yuvagarjana, it did not happen. In fact, he was made to wait till the party chief allowed him to speak. Apparently, in a deliberate attempt, Balaiah was made to sit for nearly one and a half hours after his entry on to the dais where Naidu allowed all and sundry to address the gathering. “The list was more long. It has been cut short when people started roaring for Balaiah’s address,” admitted a TDP leader. Ravichandra Yadav, Pratibha Bharathi, Narsi Reddy, Tilak, Nagam, K E Krishna Murthy, Roja, Vem Narender Reddy and Yerrannaidu spoke ahead of Balaiah. Though all of them were allowed to speak for just two to three minutes, Naidu consumed more time in between to control the jostling masses. Curiously, Balaiah calmly sat on the dais for most part of the time even as Naidu controlled the nerves of the crowds. He did not try to intervene at any point. At times, Harikrishna tried to pacify the crowds along with Naidu. Balaiah, who found time to walk around the dais, never tried to be the pilot and was in his cool self even when all the party leaders who spoke ahead of him took the name of party chief Naidu first and then only his. Women’s wing chief Roja had even declared that “Balaiah babu has arrived only to extend his support to Naidu” and ended her speech with a `Zindabad to Naidu’ alone. Courtesy-TOI