Tamil actor Vishal’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh sent social media into a tizzy.
Now, in politically-charged Andhra, it does not take much to spark social media frenzy. But the reason in this case was interesting.
It transpires that Vishal’s family has had business links in Chittoor district. The region has granite quarries and Vishal’s father, the film producer GK Reddy, was at one time involved in granite mining and was also popular in and around Chitoor. Especially a town called Kuppam.
For those who don’t know Andhra politics, Kuppam is the Assembly segment that has been held by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu for more than three decades.
And it is also where YSRCP supremo and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy intends to deliver a body blow to the TDP by ensuring Naidu’s defeat in the 2024 election.
Jagan has been working relentlessly to undermine Naidu in Kuppam and loosen his hold on the constituency, even luring away some his staunchest lieutenants. And he seems to be succeeding somewhat. In the local bodies election held a year ago, the YSRCP emerged winner in the segment, spreading panic in TDP ranks.
Which is why Vishal’s visit to Tirupati and parts of Chittoor district caused such a buzz. His sudden visit led to speculation that he had been chosen by Jagan to take on Naidu in Kuppam.
However, the Tamil star was quick to put all such speculation to rest. Ruling out any and all possibility of entering politics — I’m making good money as an actor, he said! — Vishal stressed his non-partisanship by saying that he admires Jagan, and also likes Pawan Kalyan, the Jana Sena chief.
His visit to Tirupati, he said, was to participate in a pre-release of his latest movie, Laththi — which has been dubbed in Telugu.
