HYDERABAD: Reviving his political career, actor Mohan Babu on Tuesday joined YSRCP with party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy welcoming him into the fold at his residence in Hyderabad. Addressing a press conference after meeting, Mohan Babu said Jagan would sweep the ensuing assembly Lok Sabha and assembly polls. “Jagan will become the chief minister,” he said.The 69-year-old Mohan Babu said he had even predicted that NT Rama Rao would become chief minister after he had launched his political party in 1983. Mohan Babu served as Rajya Sabha member of the TDP from 1995-2001. He left the TDP following differences with N Chandrababu Naidu even before the completion of his term.Mohan Babu who has acted in 570 films is also an educationist. He said despite repeated reminders, AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu had not released Rs 19 cr that was due to the Sri Vidya Niketan Educational institutions for the last few years as fee reimbursement for the engineering colleges. “I have raised this issue but my political decision is not because of that,” he said.It may be mentioned here that Mohan Babu is related to Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Mohan Babu’s son Manoj is married to Viranica, daughter of Sudheekar Reddy, the younger brother of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. “It is not because of our relationship that I have joined though I was invited to join the party three years ago itself. I believe the AP needs the services of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and he will serve the state as chief minister. His win is for sure,” he said.Mohan Babu said after he distanced himself from TDP, he did not join any other party. He said he had associated himself with the BJP having even campaigned for the party along with former prime minister Vajpayee at a public meeting at Nizam college in Hyderabad. He said though BJP leaders had extended an invitation to him to join the party, he chose not to. He said former chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Rao had also extended an invitation to him to campaign for the Congress in the 2009 assembly elections but he could not as he was abroad shooting.To reply to a question, Mohan Babu shot back: “Who is Chandrababu that I have to seek his permission to join YSRCP? Did I take permission from him when I joined TDP when N T Rama Rao led the party?” He said he would campaign for the YSRCP according to a plan that would be formulated in a couple of days.

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