Even as he is making desperate efforts to use the film stars of the NTR family in the next election campaign, Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu is now facing the threat of the move back firing at him.
While Naidu has brought his two actor brothers-in-law N Balakrishna and N Harikrishna and three new generation stars from among NTR's grand children, there is a clamor among the fans and some family members that the popular star Balakrishna should be the next chief minister.
Earlier such slogans were raised by the Balakrishna fans in different gatherings but in a latest and rattling development, a young film star within the family has raised the demand now.
Taraka Ratna, a grand son of NT Rama Rao and a popular young Telugu star has told a massive rally in Nellore district, "Seeing Balakrishna as the CM is my long cherished dream and hope."
Taraka Ratna is the son of Balakrishna's elder brother N Mohan Krishna.
"My grandfather was like a god to me and Balaiah is a godfather," he said.
The Nellore meeting was in preparation for the massive 'Sima Garjana Rally' the TDP is organizing on November 9 at Guntur where the focus will be on Balakrishna and other film stars in the family.
The new generation actors from the NTR clan including Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram are also mobilizing support for the proposed rally and will also be onstage in Guntur.
After taking the control of power and the party, Naidu had gradually sidelined the children of NTR and they had also stayed away from the TDP in the 2004 polls when it was badly defeated.
Naidu had resorted to enlisting the support and help of Balakrishna and other stars in the family after it became clear that the film star turned politician Chiranjeevi was going to give him a tough fight in the coming elections.
The seasoned leaders of the TDP are also worried that these film stars were now flexing their muscles demanding tickets for their supporters.
More from rediff