The brief meeting of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Tollywood hero Junior NTR in Hyderabad on Sunday evening continues to create ripples in the political circles of the two Telugu states. Though it was said that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu would meet Shah at Ramoji Film City in the presence of media baron Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, it did not happen and remained a mere rumour.
However, Shah met Junior NTR for over 40 minutes and shared his dinner with the young actor. BJP senior leader and Union Minister G Kishen Reddy said that there was no political significance to the meeting and it was purely related to the actor and his career. The BJP sources said that Shah wanted to appreciate Junior NTR and the meeting was restricted only for appreciation.
But, there is a lot doing rounds in the two Telugu states. Actor Junior NTR is an influential young leader in the two Telugu states. His influence has two aspects – a proven hero and a representative of the dominant Kamma caste from the late NTR family.
As a proven actor, Junior NTR is able to pull the crowd and can influence people, which would be of great help to the BJP in the Munugodu Assembly by-election. Nalgonda district is dominated by the Kamma settlers from Krishna and Guntur district, who own up and hold NTR close to their heart. This would help BJP to reap some votes in the by-election.
Junior NTR’s aunt, Purandheswari is already there with the BJP and Shah meeting NTR would send some clear and positive signals to the TDP leaders in the two Telugu states that BJP is their alternative. This would help the BJP get the advantage in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
In fact, the discussion is on this line in the two Telugu states and a good number of TDP and the Kamma leaders are looking towards the BJP now as an alternative, if not immediately.
Afterall, Amit Shah is a politician and whatever he does is for his party’s political advantage, even if it is eating in a Dalit leader’s house or attending a charity show. His meeting with Junior NTR is also to be seen from the political angle and not outside politics.
