All Round ‘Political’ Attractions For Ambati Rayudu

Cricketer Ambati Rayudu is overwhelmed with offers from political parties. After having shown inclination to enter politics by showering AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, major political parties in both the Telugu states are vying to pull him into their party fold. Rayudu hails from Vellalore in Ponnur mandal, Guntur district and his grandfather worked as a TDP sarpanch. The TDP is planning to field him either as an MLA or an MP as he belongs to the Kapu community. There are reports that the TDP has already held talks with him.

Having retired from cricket, Rayudu plans to make his second innings in politics. The ruling YCP has reportedly offered him MP ticket from Guntur. YCP MP Vijayasai Reddy and minister Ambati Rambabu are discussing modalities with the cricketer.

The BRS in Telangana has plans to make Rayudu the chief of the party unit in Andhra Pradesh, if he agrees. Sources said that AP BRS in-charge Thota Chandrasekhar Rao had met him and conveyed his party chief’s plans to him. At one time, Rayudu even called minister Harish Rao as Harish Anna.

The BRS, it is being said, is trying to help Jagan’s YCP in splitting the Kapu votes which can go into the TDP-JS alliance kitty by making him the BRS chief and taking up electioneering in the entire state.

The Congress in Telangana is planning to field him as an MP from Malkajgiri where there are a large number of settlers. It is also learnt that former cricketer and Congress leader Azharuddin has been roped in to speak to Rayudu about joining their party. He was also offered choice to select the constituency from where he would like to contest in Andhra Pradesh, if he has no interest to join the party in Telangana, sources said.

Recently, Rayudu met Jagan at Tadepalli and then there were rumours that they discussed something in connection with CBI cases on Jagan and his cousin and YCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy. Rayudu is the friend of CBI director Praveen Sood’s son-in-law who is also a cricketer. There was talk that Jagan was trying to make it look like a political deal but was secretly discussing CBI cases.

At one time, there was talk that YCP has plans to field Rayudu as an MLA from Ponnur constituency in Guntur district, where Kapus are in a huge number. However, the YCP later changed its plans and wanted to field him as Guntur MP candidate, as he would be able to give a stiff competition to TDP rival Galla Jayadev.