When the YSR Congress Party, headed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, was in power, senior actor and writer Posani Krishna Murali was known as his ardent supporter.
He served as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation during the YSRCP regime.
He used to hold press conferences regularly and strongly criticise Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party leaders, including present Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Following the change of government in Andhra Pradesh, multiple cases were registered against him across the state by rival political leaders, including members of the Jana Sena Party.
He was arrested by the state police at his residence in Hyderabad in early 2025 and remanded to judicial custody. He was subsequently granted bail in the various cases registered against him.
After that, Posani announced that he would stay away from all political activities and would not make comments against anyone, apparently to avoid further trouble in the cases filed against him.
Now, he says he was never a member of the YSR Congress Party. In an interview with a digital channel, Posani said he was not officially associated with the YSRCP in any manner.
He said he had always supported leaders whom he believed were performing better for the people, irrespective of party affiliation.
He recalled that he had earlier considered Chandrababu Naidu a better leader and later supported Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Posani said he had maintained cordial relations with Chandrababu Naidu in the past and frequently visited him.
He also noted that Naidu had given the first clap for one of his films, adding that he had admiration for the Telugu Desam Party chief.
However, Posani maintained that he does not blindly support any leader and would change his stand if he disagreed with certain policies or decisions. He asserted that he would question any government whenever he sees wrongdoing.
Citing an example from the previous YSRCP government, Posani said he personally intervened in a case involving the alleged illegal removal of a hotel belonging to a man named Bobby, reportedly because he had supported the TDP.
According to Posani, a senior YSRCP leader and four-time MLA allegedly used municipal authorities to demolish the hotel and occupy the land.
He said Bobby approached him seeking help, after which he contacted former government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and requested intervention.
He claimed that the matter was immediately escalated to then Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who reportedly ordered the leader to vacate the land and warned of action if he failed to comply. The land was restored to Bobby within half an hour, he said.
Posani further stated that he had never knowingly committed any wrongdoing and was not afraid of criticism.
He said he would support Chandrababu Naidu if the government implemented good policies, but would also openly criticise decisions that hurt people.
He added that all governments have a responsibility to address public grievances and advised political leaders to remain servants of the people instead of becoming arrogant because of power.
