DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A video of Telugu actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu is being shared on Facebook in which she is seen appealing to vote for TDP in the upcoming elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
In this video, the actress is seen appealing to the AP voters in Telugu saying, “నేను మీ సమంత .. అభివృద్ధి కి వోట్ చేయండి . సైకిల్ గుర్తుకే మీ ఓటు.. జై తెలుగుదేశం.”[I am your Samantha, vote for development, your vote is for a bicycle.”]
The video was shared on March 9, 2024 here too.
The context is that the elections to the AP Assembly will be held on May 13, 2024. The TDP (Telugu Desam Party) is contesting the elections in alliance with the Janasena and the Bharatiya Janata Party and its symbol is cycle.
FACT CHECK
When searched Twitter, we found an old video shared in 2019 elections, appealing the voters to vote for Telugu Desam Party candidate Agani Sathyaprasad from Repalle in Guntur. See the full video on YOUTUBE here:
A news channel also reported that actress Samantha released a video message saying, “Remember the cycle, cast your vote and let Satya Prasad win with a huge majority.”
Here is Why #Samantha supports #TDP Repalle MLA Candidate?https://t.co/rawQN1LNL1#AnaganiSatyaPrasad #Majili #APElections2019 #AndhraPradeshElections2019 pic.twitter.com/GDnuZeJcC7
— NTV Breaking News (@NTVJustIn) April 10, 2019
In fact, the video received criticism from many circles. Samantha responded to them saying, “Satya Prasad is a good person.” She explained that she had known him and his sister Manju since she came to Hyderabad. “That’s why I asked him to vote,” she added, as seen here:
Yes family friend .. my support is personally towards him . I know him and his sister @DrManjula_A since the time I moved to Hyderabad .. hence I support because he is a good person https://t.co/76FWWRswE9
— Samantha (@Samanthaprabhu2) April 9, 2019
Hence, the old video was altered to make it relevant this time for the entire TDP party in 2024 elections. Samantha has not appealed to voters to vote for any candidate in 2024 elections so far.
Claim: Video of actress Samantha saying “I am your Samantha, vote for development, cycle is your vote” shared ahead of 2024 elections.
Conclusion: False. Altered video of Samantha supporting a particular TDP candidate in 2019 was shared ahead of the 2024 elections in AP.
Rating: Misrepresentation — 
