Avanthi Srinivasa Rao has had a long and eventful political journey, winning three elections from three different parties. After the 2019 elections, he entered Jagan’s cabinet and was the sole cabinet representative from Vizag at the time.
However, Avanthi’s political graph dipped sharply after he was removed from the cabinet within two and a half years. He was later appointed District Party President but lost that position soon and was replaced by Panchakarla Ramesh Babu.
His political image suffered severe damage due to multiple instances of vulgar audio leaks that surfaced online. These controversies weakened his standing within the party and among the public.
Despite this, Avanthi managed to secure a ticket from Bheemili in the 2024 elections. He suffered a massive defeat with a margin of 92,401 votes, marking one of the biggest setbacks of his career.
Following the loss, Avanthi Srinivasa Rao became politically inactive and resigned from the party. He publicly announced that he would take a short break from politics, signalling uncertainty about his future plans.
Meanwhile, his daughter Lakshmi Priyanka continued in YSR Congress, leading many to believe Avanthi might use her position strategically for a possible return. However, that assumption soon changed.
Lakshmi Priyanka also resigned from YSR Congress ahead of the crucial no confidence motion against the party’s Mayor in the Greater Vishakapatnam Municipal Corporation. This move clearly indicated Avanthi’s decision to cut ties completely.
Speculation is now rife that Avanthi is exploring a political comeback and is reportedly eyeing the Jana Sena Party. His early political roots trace back to the Praja Rajyam Party, where he won as Bheemili MLA in 2009.
After PRP merged with Congress, Avanthi continued as a Congress MLA and later shifted parties again. He is now believed to be using his old connections with the Mega family and the Kapu community to enter Jana Sena.
Earlier, he attempted to join the TDP, but Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao reportedly opposed his entry. The opposition was said to be linked to plans for his son’s candidature in future elections.
Sources suggest Pawan Kalyan is assessing whether Avanthi’s induction would strengthen Jana Sena in Uttarandhra. However, this potential move is already sparking internal debate.
Beyond frequent party switches and corruption allegations, the biggest blow to Avanthi’s career has been the vulgar audio controversies involving women. These incidents continue to haunt his public image.
Given these factors, questions remain whether Jana Sena truly needs a leader like Avanthi. Pawan Kalyan may need to carefully reconsider if such an entry aligns with the party’s long term vision.
