Megastar Chiranjeevi might have long distanced himself from active politics, retreating to his dominion in Tollywood after a brief and uneventful political stint, but it appears politics in Andhra Pradesh doesn’t keep away from him, as he continues to be in the news related to politics.
His appearance alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Sankranti celebrations on January 13 at Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy’s residence in Delhi offered a striking example of this phenomenon.
While the BJP leaders attending such events is routine, what turned heads was the unexpected presence of the Tollywood megastar, fuelling speculation about the BJP's plans of seeking his help in Andhra Pradesh politics.
Throughout the event, Chiranjeevi appeared to receive special attention from the Prime Minister. From lighting the traditional “Bhogi Manta” (Sankranti bonfire) to feeding a cow bananas and enjoying cultural programs, Chiranjeevi was constantly by Modi’s side.
The megastar was even given the rare privilege of sitting next to Modi, an honour rarely extended to individuals without active political affiliations.
The visuals of Modi and Chiranjeevi engaging in animated conversations set off a wave of conjecture about the BJP’s intentions.
This is not the first time that Modi displayed his affection towards Chiranjeevi in public.
A couple of years ago, Chiranjeevi was given prominence on the stage along with Modi at the unveiling of Alluri Seetharama Raju statue at Bhimavaram.
And during the swearing-in ceremony of the NDA government in AP on June 12, 2024, too, Modi gave a lot of importance to Chiranjeevi on the stage and held up the hands of Chiranjeevi and his younger brother Pawan Kalyan, evoking wild applause from the audiences.
Was the Prime Minister laying the groundwork to bring Chiranjeevi into the party’s fold in Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP struggles to carve an independent identity and largely relies on alliances with the TDP and Jana Sena?
Modi knows that Chiranjeevi still has the charisma to attract the people, while his Kapu identity could be a strategic asset.
His younger brother Pawan Kalyan heading the Jana Sena Party and being the deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh is already inclined towards the BJP.
“A potential “double-engine” political arrangement, with Pawan Kalyan and Chiranjeevi as key faces, could bolster the BJP’s ambitions in Andhra Pradesh, just as it has done in northern states,” sources said.
