With every political party giving ticket to film stars, the 2019 elections in Andhra Pradesh are set to witness a splash of glamour.
TDP’s star campaigners
The TDP is already having Nandamuri Balakrishna as star campaigner, and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan is himself a crowd puller. Mr. Balakrishna has geared up to contest for the second time from Hindupur.
Actors Vani Viswanath and Divya Vani joined the TDP in the recent past, but have not been given ticket. Their role would be limited to campaigning.
Yesteryear actor Murali Mohan withdrew from the election fray voluntarily. His daughter-in-law, Maganti Roopa, would be contesting from the Rajahmundry Lok Sabha seat. The party has decided to retain actor Naramalli Sivaprasad in Chittoor Parliamentary Constituency.
For the YSRCP
The “star” strength in the YSR Congress Party has, of late, increased. Nagari MLA K. Roja was the only actor until recently. Yesteryear heroine Jayasudha and actor Bhanuchander, comedians Ali and Prithvi Raj, actors Krishnudu, Raja Ravindra, Dasari Arun, Posani Krishna Murali are now with the party. Industrialist and film producer Potluri Vara Prasad is in the fray from Vijayawada Lok Sabha on YSRCP ticket.
Pawan leading from the front
And, for the JSP, its founder-president Pawan Kalyan himself would be the star campaigner. His brother and actor, Naga Babu, would be contesting from Narsapuram Lok Sabha seat. Jabardasth former team leader Shakalaka Shankar, Adi and others are supporting the Jana Sena Party.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to field Nachavule fame Madhavilatha from Guntur (West). Noted hero Krishnamraju, though he continues to be in the BJP, is not active in politics.
Earlier, all political parties used to rope in film stars as star campaigners to mobilise crowds. Later on, the actors forayed into active politics. From Kongara Jaggaiah to Mr. Pawan Kalyan, many have entered the fray eyeing political fortunes. Lady luck smiles on a few like TDP founder president N.T. Rama Rao, while some others failed to evoke response despite a lustrous film background.
Some did achieve success, and those who didn’t have even been welcomed back into the film industry, including Babu Mohan, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Kaikala Satyanarayana, to name a few. Praja Rajyam Party founder Konidela Chiranjeevi too migrated from the stage to the screen. But, unfortunately, the huge numbers that assembled at his election rallies could not be translated into votes.
Both Mr. Naga Babu and Mr. Pawan Kalyan had campaigned for the PRP floated by their brother Mr. Chiranjeevi in 2009. They, however, did not contest the elections, while Chiranjeevi entered the fray from two Assembly constituencies.
