Once a powerful face in the YSRCP, Avanthi Srinivas Rao, who served as Tourism Minister for three years, now finds himself at a political crossroads.
During his time in office, Avanthi wielded considerable influence and enjoyed a strong political presence. Later, when the party underwent a reshuffle, he was among several ministers who lost their cabinet posts.
Despite being dropped from the cabinet, YSRCP retained him as a key district leader and even gave him a ticket to contest the 2024 elections. His daughter too entered politics, winning a corporator seat.
Avanthi’s political journey has been marked by frequent party switches.
He began his career in 2009 by contesting from Bheemunipatnam on a Praja Rajyam Party ticket and won as MLA. After PRP merged with Congress, he continued as a Congress MLA.
In 2014, he joined the TDP and became an MP from Anakapalli. Later, he shifted to YSRCP, where he served as a minister before quitting the party in December last year. Since then, he has remained politically unaffiliated.
His daughter’s vote in support of the alliance during the no-confidence motion against the YSRCP mayor in GVMC earlier this year helped the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance secure victory. This sparked speculation that Avanthi would soon join the alliance, most likely TDP.
However, months have passed with no invitation from the TDP leadership. Political circles claim that Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao is opposing his entry, reportedly to make way for his son’s candidature in the next election.
Avanthi is also said to have explored joining Jana Sena, but sources say he received no positive response there either.
Once a leader with continuous access to power through ruling parties, Avanthi now stands politically stranded, with alliance parties showing little interest in his entry.
His long political run, which thrived on being part of the ruling establishment, has now hit a dead end - leaving the ex-minister at a political crossroads.
