HYDERABAD: The plot thickens in the Telugu film industry. On Tuesday, 11 members of the Prakash Raj panel decided to quit from posts they were elected to in Sunday’s poll to the Movie Artistes Association (MAA). These include eight executive committee members, one executive vice president, a joint secretary and a vice-president.
This follows Prakash Raj’s resignation from the primary membership of MAA on Monday after his loss to Manchu Vishnu for the post of president.
“We want to give a free hand to Vishnu and his panel to fulfil all the promises they made. If our panel members are there, they might question things that are happening which may not be in in the interest of the association. We do not want to be seen as an impediment,” said actor Srikanth after quitting from executive vice-president post.
Others who spoke said a atmosphere of fear has been created in MAA as witnessed during the polling and counting. They said in such a situation when tempers run high, there was scope for more friction.
“There was rowdyism during elections. One of our members was assaulted. We have taken a dignified decision not to be part of the elected body though MAA members showed immense trust and got 11 of us elected. It is in the overall interest of the members themselves that our elected members have decided to quit,” Prakash Raj said, adding that there was also no transparency in the counting of votes.
Once again bringing to the fore the issue of local/non-local plank that the election was fought on by the Vishnu panel against him, Prakash Raj said he would withdraw his resignation from the primary membership of Movie Artistes Association on one condition.
“Change the by-laws to stipulate that a non-Telugu should not contest polls. It will then be clear to everyone that they cannot aspire to contest if they belong to the association but are not Telugus,” he said.
Prakash Raj, however, made it clear that there was no proposal to float a rival association to MAA.
“But let Vishnu know this: I will seek a report card every month on the progress of the promises that he made,” Prakash Raj said.
Others from Prakash panel also said they would question the Vishnu-led panel from outside the committee as they had a responsibility towards members who had reposed their trust in them.
