Samaikya Champs launch TV Ad campaign

Hyderabad: In what could be seen as a move to create a feel-good atmosphere for chief minister N Kiran Reddy by the time he delivers a 'spirited speech' in support of Samaikyandhra in the Assembly, a massive advertising blitzkrieg in support of United Andhra Pradesh has been launched on TV channels.

After erecting flexi banners in support of Samaikyandhra across Seemandhra, United Andhra protagonists in the Congresshave begun sponsoring commercial advertisements in support of their cause on television channels too.

An advertisement, questioning the motive behind sudden decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, is being telecast by prominent TV channels in the state.

The TV commercial starts with a song by singer Gazal Srinivas, which goes, 'Innellu Kalisi Vundi.. Ippudu Enduku Vidipovadam? (What is the need to stay separately after living together all these years?) and ends with a slogan, 'Samaikyandhra Mana Vidhanam, Jai Samaikyandhra Mana Ninadam' (United Andhra Is Our Policy, Jai Samaikyandhra Is Our Slogan).

In order to evoke a feeling of Telugu pride among the viewers, the pictures of prominent Telugu personalities such as Potti Sriramulu and Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, along with the portraits of the Telugu Trinity of Poets Nannaya, Tikkana and Yerrana are displayed in the backdrop as the song is played. The image of Telugu Talli is also being splashed in the backdrop of a map of Andhra Pradesh.

According to sources, 20 lakh T-shirts with the slogan, 'Samaikyandhra' emblazoned, are being readied by the United Andhra protagonists for the 'run' by lakhs of people they plan to organise in the first week of February.

Meanwhile, the advertising blitzkrieg on TV channels in support of Samaikyandhra has become a point of discussion among Congress lawmakers in the Assembly lobbies.

When tourism minister Vatti Vasant Kumar and municipal administration minister M Maheedhar Reddy met finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, the three had a discussion on the issue.

According to sources, among these three, a minister felt that JWT Mindset Advertising Pvt Ltd, which is handling the advertisements of various welfare schemes of the state government, could also be handling the advertisements in support of Samaikyandhra at the behest of the chief minister's camp.

Holding a different view, Vasant Kumar felt that the advertisement campaign could have been launched by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal at the behest of Kiran Reddy. Since Gazal Srinivas is a close associate of Rajagopal, the minister felt that Vijayawada MP's company Lanco Group might be sponsoring the advertisement campaign.

He recalled that the singer had earlier travelled to various countries as Lanco's cultural ambassador. Srinivas singing a song for a campaign in support of Samaikyandhra could indicate that Lanco was behind the campaign.