Split in Movie Artist Association, members seek fresh election
Sunday saw a showdown at the Movie Artist Association (MAA) between President VK Naresh's group on one side and Executive Vice President Rajasekhar's on the other.
It all started when Rajasekhar and his wife Jeevitha, the secretary of MAA, called on the members for an important 'friendly' meeting at the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce without putting a word to Naresh, who has the backing of eight members. Jeevitha, who spoke at length at the meeting stressing on the failure of Naresh, has asserted that there is a split in the association due to some unsolved issues.
An 18-member group supporting Rajasekhar is discontent with Naresh and accuse him of creating a monopoly in the association. “Naresh is not showing interest to attend the office, has been misappropriating funds amounting to Rs 5.50 crore that belong to the association, and has failed to raise funds through events and sponsors. He is behaving like a monarch and we demand that he resigns as the president for failing to deliver on promises,” informs a source while talking about the circumstances.
While several actors belonging to Naresh's group offered a peacemaking gesture and requested Rajasekhar and Jeevitha to talk to the president in person, the star couple refused to budge.
Comedian Prudhvi, who was at the meet, has sought a fresh election for MAA. "I was surprised by the unruly behaviour of some members. It's inappropriate on their part that they are not letting others speak. I urge Chiranjeevi garu (Founder president, MAA) to intervene, dissolve the present association, and conduct a fresh election," says Prudhvi.
Meanwhile, veteran writer Paruchuri Gopala Krishna has rubbished reports of him leaving the meeting midway moist-eyed, and tweeted, "I was neither teary-eyed nor emotional. I was irked by the behaviour of some members and walked out of the meet midway."
This is not the first time MAA finds itself in such a situation, and looking at the current situation, this will likely not be the last time either.