Ambati Rayudu | photo credit: file photo
Cricketer Ambati Tirupati Rayudu is all set to enter the electoral politics of Andhra Pradesh after finishing the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which he is representing Chennai Super Kings.
It is not clear which party he wants to join to start his political innings, but according to him, “it will be a party or platform where he can bring about a change in the politics of the state”. Mr. Rayudu was brought up in Hyderabad but is a native of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, hence his interest in Andhra Pradesh politics.
revealed his intentions in a special conversation with Hindu On Tuesday, Mr Rayudu said his family and friends were supportive of his decision and he was wary of the negative consequences politics could bring on his life as a celebrity and as an individual. The CSK star said, “Educated youth should enter politics to bring about a change and this thought inspired me to take this decision.” However, he is not retiring from cricket.
Given his celebrity status and goodwill among people as a cricketer, most political parties would be vying for him, but Mr. Rayudu was not ready to share his choice. “Some political parties have sent feelers to me and I will announce my decision at an appropriate time,” he said. “Look at the development in Telangana,” he said.
Going by the tone and tone, he is likely to be part of opposition parties such as the Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena or the Bharatiya Janata Party rather than the ruling Yuvajana Shramik Rythu Congress party. However, he said that all major parties have given feelers for him. His distant relative Ambati Rambabu is a minister in Andhra Pradesh.
So, when will he join politics? The former Indian cricketer and one of the longest-serving cricketers in the IPL, with over 190 matches in his kitty, says, “As soon as the IPL season ends, or maybe already ”
He hails from the Kapu community and realizing how caste has become an irreconcilable part of one’s political identity, the flamboyant cricketer is aware of the now highly divisive political landscape in Andhra Pradesh, but that is no deterrent. He said that his innate desire to be in public service is driving him. “I could not fulfill my dream of entering civil services because of my sports career, but now there is an opportunity,” he said. ,
Mr. Rayudu would be one of the few cricketers from Telugu states who chose politics as a career. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin once had a successful political career as a Member of Parliament, and is currently the working president of the Telangana Congress. A few days back former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy also represented the Andhra team in the Ranji Trophy.