Star wars in Nandyal bypoll

Nandyal: The high-decibel electioneering in this backward Assembly segment in Kurnool district received a star touch from Nandamuri Balakrishna of the TDP and RK Roja from YSRCP.

The actors became crowd-pullers for the candidates of their respective parties. Balayya sought to strike an emotional chord by recalling his association with late Bhuma Nagi Reddy, uncle of the TDP nominee Brahmananda Reddy.

Roja however spiced up the campaign by taking potshots at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and exposing the TDP’s alleged misrule. It’s a mix of fan and political gatherings as the people vied one another to take a glance at the stars.

Nandamuri Bala Krishna started his maiden road show from Venkateswarapuram of Nandyal on Wednesday.

In his typical style, Balaiah depicted Silpa brothers as back-stabbers and traitors who defected to the YSRC after taking shelter in the TDP for several years to pursue `politics of opportunism’. He urged the voters to ensure the victory of Brahmananda Reddy with a thumping majority as a tribute to late Nagi Reddy.

Roja used her choicest epithets to attack Naidu by describing him as bandit Ghazani. She asked Nandyal voters to teach him a befitting lesson in the election.

She, however, appeared soft to Balayya, saying he was an innocent and drafted to reach out a script prepared by his party leaders. She termed the election as a fight between turncoat politics and loyalties.