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Daughter claims NTR legacy
Eight years after NTR's death, claims to his political legacy remain wide open. The latest contender is the late Telegu icon's second daughter, Purandareswari, who is contesting from the Bapatla Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket.
Eight years after NTR's death, claims to his political legacy remain wide open. The latest contender is the late Telegu icon's second daughter, Purandareswari, who is contesting from the Bapatla Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket.
"NTR is no one's monopoly. I have as much right to use my father's name," she said, but skirted questions on why she decided on the Congress, a party her father had fought throughout.
A trained gemologist, Purandareswari was a housewife before she decided to take the plunge, apparently to avenge the "ill-treatment" meted out to her husband D. Venkateswara Rao by CM Chandrababu Naidu.
Rao was one of the architects of TDP in 1982 and had joined forces with Naidu to oust NTR. But he soon fell out of Naidu's favour. After considerable time in political wilderness, Rao is contesting the Assembly election from Parchur, one of the seven segments under Bapatla parliamentary seat.
Purandareswari is the first woman in her family to try her hand at politics, though two sons, Jayakrishna and Harikrishna, had briefly dabbled in it and burnt their fingers.
Family sources say Purandareswari is made of "stronger stuff" and could pose a threat to the "pretenders" of the NTR legacy, like Renuka Chowadary.
Though a first-time politician, she has picked the tricks of the trade fast. "Tell me, is it the same TDP that my father had floated? TDP is now synonymous with the World Bank and moneybags, rather than the poor. Not an iota of NTR's ideal is left. Whereas the Congress stands for the poor," she said.
NTR is still revered by the people in these parts and being his daughter has given her a clear headstart over film producer and TDP candidate Rama Naidu. Possibly because of this, Rama Naidu was reluctant to contest again but was prevailed upon by the party top brass.
Purandareswari’s campaign posters carry photos of Sonia and NTR side by side.
