For the last few days, YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is struggling hard to deal with growing dissensions in the party due to denial of tickets to a few sitting MLAs and reshuffling of several other MLAs for the upcoming assembly elections.
At the same time, he is also looking for some fresh faces who can attract the voters. One such leader, according to speculations in the political circles, is senior actor and popular comedian Ali.
Sources said Jagan is contemplating fielding Ali from a suitable Lok Sabha constituency dominated by Muslim minorities.
“Most probably, the party president might zero in on Kurnool or Nandyal parliamentary constituencies to field Ali,” sources said.
Ali has been a trusted lieutenant of Jagan right from the beginning. Though he was promised assembly ticket in the last elections, he could not get it due to various equations. He was actually interested in contesting from his native place Rajahmundry.
Later, there was a talk that Ali might be nominated to the state legislative council or even Rajya Sabha, but again, Jagan had different plans. Finally, he appointed Ali as the advisor to the government on electronic media affairs with cabinet rank.
The comedian was not disappointed, but continued to work with a lot of dedication to propagate the government’s policies and programmes. This loyalty is likely to fetch him the results now, as Jagan has decided to field him in the direct elections, sources added.
