No celluloid censor at hustings

NANDYAL: Campaigning in Nandyal hit a new low with cine stars coming up with in novative and villainous ideas to hit out at political rivals. Film stars on the poll trail is nothing new, but their dialogue delivery , which would have hit the censor wall, was in full flow at the hustings and left Nandyal voters amused. At the centrestage was actress-politician Roja, who is in vanguard of the battle against ruling TDP .
“TDP is relying on film glamour to garner votes,“ Roja said during the campaign. The MLA from Nagari was targeting hero, Balakrishna, MLA from Hindupur. Entry of comedian Venu Madhav on the campaign theatre has made Roja squirm.Venu Madhav is campaigning for TDP candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy and touring villages with the candidate and also Balakrishna.
“What is the name of that person who commented about Akhila Priya,“ Venu Madhav asked the crowd. “Roja,“ they all shouted. “Do you know the meaning of Roja in Urdu?“ he asked. “Roh Jaa means to leave one in tears,“ he said while the crowd went into raptures.
Bhuma Akhila Priya is AP tourism minister and daughter of late Bhuma Nagi Reddy . The Nandyal seat fell vacant after Bhuma's death. So what was the remark against Akhila that infuriated Venu? Roja had taken a dig at Akhila for wearing only `churidaars' and not a `saree'.
Akhila chose not to be harsh, but hit back against Roja, saying she always felt Roja had the stuff for constructive criticism and knew her subject.
“A woman who would wear short skirts and danced around with tattoos is criticizing Akhila Priya. This is funny ,“ Venu Madhav remarked against Roja.
While Venu tried to take the battle into the enemy camp, Akhila Priya displayed discomfort when he touched her head and called her `my daughter'.
Popular film dialogues came in handy for Roja during the campaign. The hugely popular Mahesh Babu dialogue from the Telugu film, Pokiri -“Yevvadu kodithe dhimmathirigi mind block ayipoddo aade pandugadu“ -became a tool for Roja, replacing `aade pandugadu' with `aade Nandyal voter'.
Balakrishna, on his part, described those campaigning for YSRCP as `monkeys'. Roja played to the gallery by replaying Balakrishna's remarks at an audio function which drew wide criticism. Balakrishna had then apologized that he had said it without intent to denigrate women. However, Roja kept harping on the comments during the campaign.