The ruling Telugu Desam Party is gearing up for the three-day Mahanadu, the party’s biennial conclave, to be held at Kadapa from May 27 to 29 and preparations are in full swing for the grand political event.
Having returned to power with a thumping majority after a gap of five years, the TDP is planning to organize the event on a grand scale. Party leadership has already delegated responsibilities to senior leaders.
According to a section of party sources, there is a talk in the party that the TDP leadership is contemplating inviting all the Nandamuri family members to the event on the third day of Mahanadu, when a huge public meeting is being planned.
Sources said as part of the plan, the party is also likely to invite Junior NTR, a prominent member of the Nandamuri family and well-known actor, to the event.
The leadership is reportedly keen to involve members of the Nandamuri family, especially Jr NTR, who has long distanced himself from party and family events.
It is learnt party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have asked Nandamuri Balakrishna to coordinate with all the family members, including Jr NTR and invite them to the Mahanadu.
Jr. NTR last campaigned for TDP during the 2009 assembly elections. He even participated in some events, including the 2014 swearing-in of Chandrababu Naidu, but has since been keeping away from the party activities, focussing exclusively on his film career.
Despite Jr. NTR's repeated statements that he is always ready to support the party when needed, his silence during recent political developments under the YSRCP regime drew criticism from some TDP leaders. This caused discontent among his fanbase.
Following the 2024 elections, Jr. NTR congratulated Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Lokesh on their victory. Now, with Pawan Kalyan as an ally, TDP reportedly wants to signal unity by involving Jr NTR too, sources said.
“The party also aims to dispel perceptions that Jr NTR is being sidelined, especially after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which sparked political speculation,” sources said.
The decision to invite Jr NTR to Mahanadu is seen as part of a broader strategy to keep future political alliances open. Whether Jr NTR will attend remains a matter of intense discussion within party circles.