Pawan Kalyan to skip Amaravati fete; actors, industrialists and diplomats throng venue
Vijayawada: Tollywood actor-turned politician Pawan Kalyan will skip Amaravati capital foundation day on Thursday even as dignitaries and VVIPs from across the country are making a beeline towards the venue. Sources close to the actor claimed that his busy schedule was to be blamed for his absence. Pawan Kalyan is currently shooting for his film 'Sardar Gabbar Singh' in Gujarat.
A spokesperson of Pawan Kalyan said, "The shooting schedule is for 10 days in Gujarat for Sardar Gabbar Singh. We haven't received any information on his coming to Uddandarayunipalem, the capital venue. The ministers of Andhra Pradesh cabinet invited him when he was shooting at Hyderabad and he had categorically told that it would be difficult for him to attend."
This despite Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu extending the invitation to the actor over phone, in addition to a personal visit by Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas for the same.
The actor, who supported the Telugu Desam and BJP combine in the 2014 general elections, had earlier opposed forcible land acquisition in capital area and had requested the state government to exclude a few villages like Undavalli, Penumaka and Bethapudi from the acquisition drive.
Meanwhile, all approach roads to the venue of the function at Uddandarayunipalem village were clogged as scores of people, some as early as 4:00 am, were headed to the event.
Bollywoood actor Amitabh Bachchan and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao have already reached the venue, and several Union Ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, Bandaru Dattatreya and Sujana Chowdary will also grace the event. Industrialists like GMR chairman Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao, chairman of Apollo Hospitals C Pratap Reddy and several ambassadors of foreign countries also arrived at Amaravati earlier in the day.
Tollywood actors Rajaendra Prasad, Saikumar and playback singer Sunita arrived at the venue to anchor the programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending the functions, arriving at Gannavaram airport at 11.50 AM.
