(S.Ravi Seshu)
Veteran film star Manchu Mohan Babu has his own following in both Telugu states and he communicates his feelings with a purpose of it. Also, Mohan Babu’s love towards the actor-turned-politician NT Rama Rao is a well-known fact.
Accompanied by his family, the former Rajya Sabha MP Mohan Babu visited Vemulavada in Karimnagar district and heaped a heave praise on Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao after having the darshan of Sree Rajarajeswara Swamy and Bheemeswara Swamy on Monday. He reportedly said that KCR is a great leader after NT Rama Rao and Telangana people are fortunate enough to have KCR as Chief Minister.
Namaste Telangana, mouthpiece of the ruling party, promptly published the photo of Mohan Babu with a headline (NTR tarvaata Koppaneta KCR) and a couple of decks on page-1 of Monday edition. A double column story has been carried on page-10 with more details. Job well-done as far as NT is concerned.
Andhra Jyothi, known supporter of Telugu Desam Party, too published a similar story inside with a title; “NTR Tarvaata Antativadu KCR” indicating that KCR is as good as NTR but he comes after NTR. The very lead of the story is on Telangana people’s luck to have KCR as CM.
The mouthpiece of YSR Congress Party, Saakshi, carried a bit in inside pages with a double column headline (Aalayala Abhivruddhiki KCR Krushi Harshaneeyam) but it didn’t mention Mohan Babu’s any words of praise for KCR. But a photo of a cow with the actor’s family is published. All these papers carried the story in their main editions (broadsheet).
Interestingly, the largest circulated Telugu newspaper, which earned the reputation of the pamphlet of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, relegated this story as a small bit in its Karimnagar district page with a title: “Rajanna Sannidhilo Mohan Babu Kutumbam.” It is only a matter of fact report to inform the readers that the actor’s family visited the temple and performed pujas. None of his comments was given in the new bit. We are not sure whether Eenadu carried an another story only with the actor’s comments in another edition.
“It is a classic case of bias by Eenadu. Since Mohan Babu is saying that KCR is after NTR without mentioning Chandrababu Naidu, Eenadu doesn’t like it,” a journalist quipped. Is it true?
