Actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada, who turned 52 on Wednesday, will most likely join the Bharatiya Janata Party by the month-end.
“I will soon announce my joining a national party by the end of this month,” Ms Jaya Prada said over the phone from Tirumala Wednesday evening after praying at the Srivari temple.
Ms Jaya Prada has been dropping hints about joining the YSR Congress and contesting from her native Rajahmundry in the next general election. But she has apparently changed her mind and has now decided to join the BJP.
She has taken the advice of her political mentor, former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, to join the BJP. Ms Jaya Prada was keen to contest from Rajahmundry on a YSRC ticket and had also met Y.V. Subba Reddy, a close relative of party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, in this regard. Mr Subba Reddy told her it would be difficult to give her the seat she wanted as it had already been given to a leader of the Kamma community. He said no assurance of a party ticket could be given at this stage.