(Image source from: Sify.com)

The Movie Artists Association (MAA) of Tollywood has officially elected actor-producer Naresh as its new president after elections were conducted for its official body on March 10 in Hyderabad.

Senior actor Naresh, who was the general secretary of MAA, defeated Shivaji Raja, the incumbent president of the association, after a neck to neck contest.

While Shivaji received 199 votes, Naresh received 268.

Thanking all those who voted for him and worked with him during campaigning, Naresh said he would strive to take the association forward and work for the interests of all artists in the Telugu film industry.

On the Naresh panel, senior actor Jeevitha Rajasekhar contested and won the post of general secretary. Jeevitha’s husband actor Rajasekhar was elected to the post of executive vice-president. While actor Kota Shankara Rao and director Haranath Babu contested for the post of treasurer and vice-president respectively, the former lost to Rajeev Kanakala from Shivaji's panel polling 261 votes against the 209 that Shankara received. Haranath Babu also managed to receive only 119 votes and was defeated by Hema, who garnered 200 votes.

Meanwhile, both Shivaji and Naresh in their respective manifestos had declared that they would give Rs 5,000 as pension to old artists. They had also promised medical and life insurances.

After the MeToo movement hit Tollywood, notably, both the contenders did not make any promises on the improvement of working conditions for female artists in the industry, including addressing workplace sexual harassment.

The Telugu Film Chamber hastily put together a Sexual Harassment Redressal Panel (SHRP) earlier this year after actor Sri Reddy staged a protest in front of the chamber’s building, accusing several men from the industry of sexual exploitation.

-Sangam Sowmya