Senior actor and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna’s fiery comments in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday continued to send shockwaves through political circles on Friday.
Observers began analysing why Balakrishna, who rarely attends Assembly sessions, suddenly launched such an outburst that ended up putting his own party leadership in an awkward position.
According to sources, his anger was largely directed at his brother-in-law and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Balakrishna has reportedly long been displeased with Naidu for sidelining him both in government and in the party.
Despite being a star campaigner and a three-time MLA, he has only been given a nominal position in the party’s politburo and has never been offered a ministerial berth or a key organisational role. This has been a recurring source of resentment, sources added.
The TDP leadership was said to be embarrassed by Balakrishna’s arrogant and improper behaviour in the Assembly, particularly when he publicly questioned why his name was listed ninth on the schedule to meet the chief minister.
This fueled speculation that he was unhappy with what he saw as shabby treatment of senior leaders.
What grabbed the most attention, however, were his sharp remarks against YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, whom he described as a “psycho,” and his disparaging comments about megastar Chiranjeevi.
While there was nothing unusual about TDP leaders branding Jagan a “psycho” — Naidu himself has used similar language during campaigns — Balakrishna’s choice of words inside the Assembly created ripples.
Criticism of Chiranjeevi for being “submissive” to Jagan during his tenure as chief minister was also not new; TDP leaders had raised it before, and even Chiranjeevi’s brother Pawan Kalyan had once accused Jagan of arrogance despite Chiranjeevi approaching him respectfully.
Still, Balakrishna’s remarks on Thursday were more damaging because they exposed simmering discontent within the TDP ranks.
Analysts say the episode underlined growing friction between Balakrishna and the leadership, making it a fresh headache for the party.