Star-studded alliance in AP ahead of polls

It is an alliance of two powerful families which has a significant political undertone. The engagement between the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's niece Veronica Reddy and popular Telugu film star Mohan Babu's son Vishnuvardhan Babu has created quiet a flutter. Veronica is the daughter of Sudhakar Reddy, the CM's brother.

It was literal who's who both from tinsel town and politics who were present at the engagement function in Hitec city.

The most rare and memorable scene was that of two bitter political rivals YSR and Telugu Desam supremo N Chandrababu Naidu greeting warmly and exchanging pleasantries.

The function also attended by Chiranjeevi who greeted Mohan Babu as well as the CM.

Then there were other big stars including Balakrishna who was seen with the daughter and other family members of Babu Mohan.

One question doing the rounds in both the film and political circles is whether this was yet another move by a politician to shore up his stocks with the film world by having a close relationship with a star like Mohan Babu who still has a good following.

In the run up to an election campaign, which will be dominated by film stars, the Congress needs as many stars to back it as possible. Till now it has support of yesteryear actors like Krishna, Jamuna and Jayasudha.

With Mohan Babu also on YSR's side he can hope to get the support of many more stars in the next year's polls.

Mahesh Babu, son of Krishna, is also likely to extend a helping hand to Congress.