Popular Telugu actor Nagarjuna on Tuesday called on YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, triggering speculation in political circles that he may take a plunge into active politics. The actor met Jaganmohan Reddy, who is the leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, at the latter's Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad.
Speculation was also rife that he could have met Jagan on behalf of someone close to him to seek an Assembly or MP ticket from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. The actor, however, denied reports that he is planning to contest the coming elections or he met Jaganmohan Reddy to seek ticket for any other person.
Nagarjuna told reporters that he is not keen on politics. He said there was no politics in his meeting with Jagan.
Describing Jagan as his family friend, the actor said he called on him to congratulate him on successful completion of his 'padyatra'.
The YSRCP chief is hopeful of coming to power in the state after he recently completed a 429-day-long padayatra covering 3,648 km. YSRCP leaders claim that Jagan had reached out to two crore people during the padayatra, covering 134 out of 175 Assembly constituencies in the state.
Jagan had set out on the padayatra on November 6, 2017, from his hometown Idupulapaya in Kadapa district. His party had boycotted the Assembly sessions, despite being the principal Opposition party, and instead focussed on the padayatra.
Meanwhile, asked about the meeting between Jagan and Nagarjuna, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Guntur MP Galla Jayadev told reporters, “I am neither in YSRCP or in Hyderabad, so I can’t comment on the meeting. Me and Nagarjuna are good friends. I’m sure he has no such political ambitions.”
Galla Jayadev is also the brother-in-law of Mahesh Babu, another prominent actor in Tollywood.
Elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha are likely to be held in April-May.