In a boost for YSRCP ahead of the elections, two major faces have joined the party. One of them is prominent Telugu actor Ali, and the other is Devineni Chandrasekhar, who belongs to the Devineni family and is a relative of Andhra minister Devineni Uma.
The actor called on YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy at the latter's Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad and joined the party.
Ali, whose full name is Mohammad Ali Basha, told reporters that he would campaign for the party and would like to see Jaganmohan Reddy as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Both these additions would help YSRCP, as Ali is under consideration for Vijayawada West seat while Devineni Chandrasheker has decided to support the party's Mylavaram assembly candidate, Vasanta Krishna Prasad.
Following the move, Ali said that Jagan has the commitment for betterment of the state and added, "As people in the state are also wanting Jagan to come to power, I'm doing my bit to make it happen."
Earlier, there were reports about Ali joining Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, given his acquaintance with Pawan. Revealing why he hadn't joined the Jana Sena, he said, “I met the leadership of Jana Sena, but there was no concrete assurance of my political future. Here, (Jagan) asked me to come and join and he will be there for me."
It may be noted that Telugu actor Prudhvi Raj also recently joined YSRCP and became the state secretary.
Devineni Chandrasekhar, who joined Jagan's party in the presence of Myalavaram MLA candidate, Vasanta Krishna Prasad said that he would work for the party’s success.
Chandrasheker said he had to leave the party due to various reasons while alleging that the TDP was steeped in corruption with regard to irrigation projects in the state.
The Devineni family enjoys a considerable amount of influence in Vijayawada city since the tenure of Devineni Nehru, who was a key figure in the city's politics in the 1980s. Devineni Nehru had joined TDP when it was floated by NT Rama Rao in early 1982. Nehru's family also had a long-running feud with their political rival Vangaveeti Ranga's family, which resulted in faction violence in the city in the 70s before either group entered politics.
Speaking to media on Chandrasekhar joining the party, Vasanta said, "Chandrasekhar has come out of Devineni Uma’s hold just like Vibheeshan who left Lanka,” and added that that they will both work together for the party’s victory.
Simultaneous elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha are scheduled on April 11.
(with IANS inputs)