While the Telugu Desam Party has fielded Murli Mohan, the Praja Rajyam Party of Chiranjeevi has pitted the "Rebel Star" of Telugu films UV Krishnam Raju, who recently quit the Bharatiya Janata Party to join the PRP.
It is for the first time in Andhra Pradesh that a film star will be pitted against another star.
Krishnam Raju is the latest addition to the list of film actors in the fray this year. 22 year old Vijayshanti is contesting from Medak Lok Sabha constituency and Jayasudha is the Congress candidate from Secunderabad assembly constituency.
Though the sitting Congress Member of Parliament in Rajahmundry U Arun Kumar is also in the fray, but the main battle is expected to be between the two film stars in this land of film buffs.
Rajahmundry is the part of the East Godavari district, the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh and a stronghold of Chiranjeevi.
Krishnam Raju was keen to contest from Narsapuram constituency, where he was elected in 1999 on a BJP ticket and served in the Atal Bihari Vajpaee cabinet. But Chiranjeevi fielded him from Rajahmundry ignoring the claims of many other party leaders. Choice of Krishham Raju has reportedly angered many in the party.
Popularity wise Krisham Raju is far ahead of Murli Mohan who has been active in the TDP since its inception in 1983. It is for the first time that he has entered the electoral fray.
Earlier he served as the chairman of the State Film Development Corporation and also entered the real estate business and owns Jayabheri Group. Both the actors have many similarities and worked together in some films.
As Arun Kumar of Congress is facing strong anti incumbency, localites see little chance of his re-election. Interestingly the BJP had won the seat twice in 1998 and 1999 but now it is regarded completely marginalised.
Meanwhile the internationally famous evangelist K A Paul, who has launched Praja Sahnti Party has filed his nomination from Palacole assembly constituency in West Godavari district where the film star and PRP President Chiranjeevi is also in the fray.
