FILE photo of Pawan Kalyan and Chiranjeevi
Popular Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan, who launched a political party last week, is in Delhi and is expected to meet senior BJP leaders today amid speculation that he could tie up with the party for next month's elections.
The actor, who is the younger brother of Congress leader and union minister Chiranjeevi, could reportedly also fly to Ahmedabad to meet Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, if his talks with the BJP leaders in Delhi go well IANS has reported.
If he does tie-up with the BJP, it will pitch Pawan Kalyan directly against his brother, who was recently handed charge of the Congress' campaign in the Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh.
Chiranjeevi, a mega film star, has been talked about as a candidate for Chief Minister, should the Congress defy all predictions and form government in the residuary state after Andhra Pradesh is split to create Telangana on June 2. In 2009, Pawan Kalyan had campaigned for Chiranjeevi.
Pawan launched his Jana Sena last week with the BJP's slogan "Congress hatao, desh bachao" (remove Congress, save the country). He lambasted the Congress for dividing Andhra Pradesh and declared he would join hands with any party except his brother's.
Both the BJP and Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, who are expected to tie-up for the polls, reportedly sent feelers to the 42-year-old star, who, they believe can draw young voters, especially in Seemandhra.
Pawan Kalyan is a karate black belt and has led a dramatic personal life. He is thrice married; he had divorced his first wife after she accused him of bigamy. He is a very successful actor; in 2012 his film 'Gabbar Singh', a remake of the Hindi film 'Dabangg', was one of the highest grossers of 2012.