GUNTUR The NTR Bharat Ratna Sadhana Samiti (NTRBRSS) launched a signatures campaign seeking the country’s highest award to Telugu Desam founder NTR. The Samiti constructed a chariot and would conduct a campaign in various areas of AP. The Samiti will collect signatures of TD leaders and activists in the Maha-nadu meeting scheduled at Visakhapatnam from May 27 to 29.

The Mini-Mahanadu was held in Venkate-swara Vignana Mandiram at Guntur on Tues-day. The leaders of NTRBRSS collected the signatures of TD legislators, ministers, leaders and activists seeking announcement of Bha-rat Ratna by the BJP-led Union government to NTR. Guntur district TD president and Vinuk-onda MLA G.V. Anjane-yulu, Gurazala legislator Y. Srinivasa Rao first put their signatures and later others joined the campaign.

NTRBRSS founder K. Vikas said that late NTR changed the politics of AP by forming the TD. He said that earlier there was no recognition to Andhras as they were called Madrasis but the formation of TD and acquiring power in the year 1983 gave universal recognition to Andhras. He said that NTR is the founder of a majority of public welfare schemes and he first brought reforms by giving rights to women.

Mr Vikas said TD leaders are demanding announcement of Bharat Ratna by recognising his services and said that they are going to collect signatures in the Visakhapatnam Mahanadu. He said that NTRBRSS would conduct campaign among the masses on a chariot.