: Former India cricketer Y Venugopala Rao today took the political plunge and joined Jana Sena Party, founded by Telugu film star Pawan Kalyan.
Rao, who made his ODI debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka, played 16 international matches in his short career.
He also played in the Indian Premier League for various teams.
He met the Jana Sena chief during the latters tour of Visakhapatnam today and joined the party.
Former chairman of BC Corporation Kona Tata Rao, industrialist Konathala Sitaram, educationist Mandava Ravi Kumar and many others also joined the party.
Speaking on the occasion, Kalyan said year 2019 would usher in a new political system in Andhra Pradesh as Jana Sena's flag would fly high.
"Jana Sainiks (people) are my strength and I will be at their service till my last breath. I supported the TDP-BJP combine in 2014 and did not contest the elections only to ensure stability (of the bifurcated state). I did not expect any political or personal gains out of it," Kalyan said.
He reiterated that the Jana Sena would contest all 175 Assembly seats in the state in 2019 and usher in a qualitative change.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app