Balakrishna to unveil NTR statues today

Visakhapatnam: Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, who arrived on a two-day private visit to the district on Friday afternoon, was given a warm welcome at the airport by the Telugu Desam Party leaders, fans and activists. Accompanied by party MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishnababu, former minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murty, urban district president Vasupalli Ganeshkumar and rural district president Dadi Ratnakar, Mr Balakrishna left for a star hotel directly from the airport. When he was asked about the purpose of his visit, the actor replied that he would unveil the statues of party founder and former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao in Payakaraopet mandal on Saturday and address a public meeting. Asked whether he would participate in the party president's padayatra 'Vastunna-Meekosam', he said everybody could participate. The airport area was packed with party activists, Balakrishna fans and well-wishers. Utter confusion and tension prevailed till the actor left the area. The police had a tough time controlling the crowd. However, sources said Mr Balakrishna was in the city reportedly to work out a truce between party leaders Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu and Bandaru Satyanarayana Murty and to chalk out an action plan for the party president's padayatra and the ensuing Mahanadu. Our Payakaraopet reporter adds: Mr Balakrishna would arrive in the mandal on Saturday and directly go to Talupulamma Lova temple in the noon. In the evening, he would unveil the NTR statues at Ankampet, Kandipudi, Rajagopalapuram and Kumarapuram in Payakaraopet mandal and address a public meeting at Kumarapuram village. The NTR statues were set up by the Nandamuri Cultural Youth Wing and its honorary president and party mandal president Chintakayala Rambabu was making all arrangements.