Praja Rajyam announces its second candidate

February 16th 2009 – HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi today declared its second candidate for the forthcoming elections naming Ravi Venkateshwara Rao from Gudivada constituency in Krishna district.

Earlier in the day, he had declared Arunathara as candidate from the Jukkal constituency in Nizamabad.

Chiranjeevi participated in a meeting in which Ravi Venkateshwara Rao joined the party.

Speaking on the occassion he said that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had ignored the services of Ravi’s family, who had represented the Gudiwada constituency from 1984 and had instead given the seat to Kodali Nani in 2004.

The move was intended to serve the interests of ‘somebody’ in the Telugu Desam, he added. Chiranjeevi exuded confidence that his party would win a majority of the seats in Krishna district.

Chiranjeevi sounded the clapboard for Srikanths 100th Movie

Megastar Chiranjeevi sounding the clap board for the movie Mahatma

Krishna Vamsi’s latest film Mahatma starring Srikanth and Bhavana was launched Aluminum factor located at Gachibowli. Chiranjeevi, Dasari, Kumaraswamy (ex-CM of Karnataka), D Rama Naidu, K Raghavendra Rao attended this function as guests.

Chiranjeevi sounded the clapboard, K Raghavendra Rao switched on the camera, Dasari directed the first shot, D Rama Naidu triggered the color bomb and Kumara Swamy handed over the script.

Chiranjeevi said, “It feels nice to participate in a movie related event amidst political campaigning. It’s like getting back to roots. 100th film is a memorable one for Srikanth. I wish that Mahatma film will be the most memorable film in Srikanth’s career. Krishna Vamsi is one of the most creative directors of Telugu cinema.

Srikanth said, “I like Krishna Vamsi as a director. I had been asking him to direct my 100th film for the past two years. He prepared an amazing story. I am hoping that it will become a mile stone in my career. Producer Manohar is my friend. I would like to thank Chiranjeevi, Dasari, K Raghavendra Rao and D Rama Naidu for gracing this occasion.”

Chiranjeevi urged Governor to direct Government to order inquiries by the CBI in to the YSR & Babu scams

PR president Chiranjeevi meeting Governor N.D. Tiwari in Hyderabad on Sunday, 15th Feb 2009.

February 16th 2009 – HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi has urged Governor N.D. Tiwari to intervene and direct Government to order inquiries by the Central Bureau of Investigation and sitting Supreme Court judge into the murky affairs of the Satyam and its other companies.

Leading a party delegation and calling on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday evening, Mr. Chiranjeevi also wanted the enquiry to look into the allegations of financial irregularities and violation of fiscal laws by Jagathi Publications owned by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s son Y .S. Jaganmohan Reddy and Heritage Foods, run by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s wife N. Bhuvaneswari.

Submitting a memorandum, the Praja Rajyam chief said the State was now confronted with an extraordinary crisis, the gravity of which was sought to be downplayed by the ruling party, while the Leader of the Opposition was himself engulfed by charges of corruption. He said that in what was a scale of unprecedented proportions, the unholy ruling party – corporate nexus, fuelled by greed for personal aggrandisement, was pushing the economy to the brink of collapse. The situation needed immediate attention and steps to contain and undo the serious damage, he added. Mr. Chiranjeevi urged the Governor to invoke constitutional authority vested in him to order judicial enquiry on the issue.

PRP to decentralise organisational structure

February 16th 2009 – GUNTUR: Buoyed by the overwhelming public response to the six-day Praja Ankita Yatra of party president K. Chiranjeevi, the Praja Rajyam Party has decided to intensify public agitations in various constituencies. The top brass of the party has also decided to decentralise party’s organisational committees. A joint convener assisted by a co-convener would take up the responsibility of coordinating programmes in five constituencies each.

Addressing a media conference here on Sunday, former MLA and district in-chrage S.A. Rehman said that the party would kick off its agitation programmes with a dharna against rise in prices on February 18, followed up various agitation programmes at local-level. “We want to decentralise the organisational structure and involve local leadership,” Mr. Rehman said.

Party’s district convener Sankuratri Rama Rao said that the overwhelming response, particularly women and youth, was indicative of a ‘silent revolution’ sweeping across the district. He said that the unprecedented response among the people of Backward Classes was sending shivers in the spines of Congress and Telugu Desam Party leaders.

Befitting lesson

“The two parties have gone hysterical ever since Chiranjeevi began his tour here and the tremendous response has created a panic in their party circles,” he said.

Urban convener Kilaru Rosaiah said that the successful tour would teach a befitting lesson to those who made fun of Chiranjeevi. “Some even said that PRP would not be able to open account in the district. People would know in a couple of months the capability of the party,” he said.

He said that the TDP, which had been harping on the welfare of BCs, has exploited the BCs by allotting just one seat, Kuchinapudi, to BCs. He expressed the confidence that the disgruntled sections in BC, SC and ST would rally around PRP in the coming elections.

Party’s official representative Kosuru Venkat, Mahila Wing leaders were present.

Two retired DIGs, ex-MLA joins Praja Rajyam

February 16th 2009 – HYDERABAD: Two retired IPS officers who served as Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, a few Congress leaders from Hindupur and former Gudivada MLA Raavi Venkateswara Rao joined the Praja Rajyam in the presence of party president K. Chiranjeevi here on Sunday.

The former police officers included C. Gopinath Reddy and G. Subba Rao. Those who threw in their lot with the Praja Rajyam from Hindupur, in Anantapur district, were G.C. Sridhar, brother of Hindupur Municipal Chairman G. Venkatswamy, and a dental surgeon Sadashiv Reddy. A few dozens of their supporters, all brought together by Pasupuleti Gopal, a party leader in the district, also joined.

Talking to them, Mr. Chiranjeevi said his hands were being strengthened.

Chiranjeevi planning to tour Kurnool and Mahabubnagar before February end.

February 15th 2009 – HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi on Saturday said that he was planning tours of Kurnool and Mahabubnagar before month-end.

He said his tour of Guntur district had clearly shown that people wanted change and that they were willing to give a new entrant to politics a fair chance.

He told presspersons at Begumpet airport on his return from a five-day campaign that people were eager to welcome him everywhere he went, unmindful of long hours of wait. Having seen the Telugu Desam and the Congress in power, they were of the opinion that a chance to the Praja Rajyam was well in order.

When asked about TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s criticism that he knew nothing about politics, Mr. Chiranjeevi quipped, “Did NTR know anything about active politics when he hit the road? All that matters is the passion to understand people’s problems, the will to serve and strive to improve the lot of the weaker sections.”

Chiru Guntur Tour Galvanises Cadre

PRP president K. Chiranjeevi dancing with physically-challenged children gathered on Bhashyam IIT Campus at Gorantla on the outskirts of Guntur on Saturday, 14 Feb 2009.

February 15th 2009 – GUNTUR: Praja Rajyam Party president K. Chiranjeevi’s six-day visit to Guntur district worked as stimulus for dormant youth, women and minorities who are now showing signs of getting drawn towards the party with the common reason being given is “we tried Congress and TDP earlier, why not try Chiranjeevi this time.”

Large crowds coming to his meetings at almost all places in the district was not an indication of real vote bank, but many among had come voluntarily to listen to him and majority of them were from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, youth and women from across the castes and of course from the Kapu Community he represents.

Real momentum to political activity has come in Mangalagiri, Tenali, Repalle, Sattenapalle and there were women from some Palnadu villages, who had come voluntarily in lorries.

“We are not happy with the way Congress and TDP had dealt with our problems, we wish to vote for Chiranjeevi to see the ‘Change’ he is promising,” was how Koneganti Mastanamma described at Sattenapalle meeting.

Large number of people who came to Repalle, Mangalagiri and Sattenapalle meetings were from Backward Classes, and some came all the way from Macherla and Gurazala constituencies also to listen to Chiranjeevi. Are they unhappy with Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s policies and schemes? “He has done better than N. Chandrababu Naidu with pensions and Rajiv Arogyasri schemes,” said Solasa Lakshmanaswamy, who benefited from these programmes but said out of eight votes in his house six would go to Chiranjeevi.

Going by the response from the minorities in Guntur-East, Sattenapalle, Pedakurapadu and Repalle, the PRP leaders are happy, but lack of proper coordination among the party leaders and difference among the six coordinators appointed here has become a worrying point on which Mr. Chiranjeevi discussed with party central leaders for more than an hour at Gorantla on Guntur outskirts on Saturday.

With good choice of candidates the party believes winning Guntur-East, Sattenapalle, Repalle and Mangalagiri will not be a difficult task, but are keeping their fingers crossed.

Chiru Guntur Tour – Day 5: PRP will contest from Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Chiranjeevi becoming emotional by seeing the massive crowd response at Issapalem, Guntur District | This Photograph shows the purity of Chiru's Heart, Hats-off to our Mega Star.

February 14th 2009 – ELURUSATTENAPALLI (GUNTUR): Praja Rajyam Party will contest from Lok Sabha seats in Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the areas where sizeable population of Telugu-speaking people reside, party founder K. Chiranjeevi announced on Friday.

Expressing confidence that the party would be voted to power in the coming elections, he decried the attitude of the TDP and the Congress towards formation of separate Telangana and promised to pass a resolution in the Assembly as soon he came to power.

Talking to mediapersons at Visapalem, he termed the statement of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on separate Telangana in the Assembly on the last day of the session a deliberate attempt to divert the attention of the people and the opposition parties from the corruption charges on Saakshi.

‘Irrelevant statement’

Mr. Chiranjeevi, before setting out on the Praja Ankita Yatra on the fifth day from Visapalem near Narsaraopet, took a dig at Dr. Reddy saying: “If he could not get separate Telangana in four and half years, what can Congress do in 45 days?”

Chiru Guntur Tour – Day 4: Promises to provide 10 hours of quality power during day

Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi addressing massive crowd at Pedanandipadu on Thursday 12 Feb 2009.

February 13th 2009 – ELURU: PEDANANDIPADU (GUNTUR DT): It was around noon on Thursday when the crowds, most of them coming from neighbouring villages, started assembling at the village square. Some of them looked worried as rumour mills went round that Chiranjeevi had some health problems and the Praja Ankita Yatra could be delayed.

Their fears were set aside as it was confirmed that Mr. Chiranjeevi had resumed his tour from Jillelamudi village and would be arriving in the village in about an hour. The crowds swelled by afternoon. Women climbed onto the buildings to reserve a vantage point, while the men held on to anything they could. However, the familiar sight of revved up youth moving on their bikes was absent.

The village, part of Ponnur Assembly Constituency, a TDP bastion for a long time, was merged into Prathipadu reserved constituency in the delimitation exercise leading to changed political equations. Assistant public prosecutor G. Shanta Kumar and K. Priyadarshini are vying for the PRP ticket here.

Irrigation projects
Convoy of vehicles rolled in and Mr. Chiranjeevi, though appeared a bit tired and sweat rolling onto his cheeks, took the mike and began to address the sparse crowds. “I was thinking that I would retire happily at the end of film career. But that was not to be, as you wanted me to enter public life to cleanse the dirt in the system,” he said amidst a deafening roar of applause.

He then launched a broadside against both the Congress and the TDP for the ruckus in Assembly. “Look at the issues that they are fighting for. One leader accuses the other of amassing wealth during his rule while the other points fingers at his son,” he added.

He targeted the State Government and alleged that it had turned a blind eye to the plight of cotton farmers, who had been at the mercy of brokers ever since the CCI had stopped procurement of cotton. Finding fault with the erratic power supply, he said that he would provide quality power for 10 hours during day with a 50 per cent concession.

He faulted the State Government for launching many large irrigation projects simultaneously and alleged that projects requiring ‘thousands of crores’ had been launched to corner cuts. “We too are for development but the development should suit our needs,” he rounded off.

Later, the yatra passed through Prathipadu, Edlapadu, Chilakaluripet before reaching Narsaraopet.

Praja Rajyam submits memo to Collector on common symbol

PRP activists submit petition to Collector G. Jayalakshmi seeking common election symbol for the party in Eluru on Thursday, Feb 12 2009.

February 13th 2009 – ELURU: Members of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) district unit on Monday petitioned Collector G.Jayalakshmi seeking a common election symbol for the party in the coming general elections. They wanted the Collector to take their plea in this regard to the notice of the Chief Election Commission (CEC) of India.

The PRP district president K.P.N. Satyaprasad highlighted the need for the ECI to reconsider its earlier decision with regard to the PRP’s contention for a common symbol. The Commission has decided against the PRP’s plea on this score on the ground that the facility of common symbol could be extended to only recognised parties which got the previous history of contesting in the elections and meeting the ECI’s specifications in terms of securing the number of votes unlike in the case of PRP which was only a registered fledgling political outfit which was yet to face the elections.

Talking to the media, the PRP district chief however exuded confidence that the ECI would reconsider its ruling and issue a common symbol for its candidates fighting the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State given its massive membership and huge turnouts attending the PRP meetings across the State. In the absence of common election symbol, confusion prevails among the voters while casting their vote as per their choice. “In one Lok Sabha seat like Eluru, the party will bear as many as eight election symbols — one for the Lok Sabha candidate and seven others for the Assembly seats in the absence of common election symbol. Think of the troubles associated with such party while electioneering for its candidates”, Dr. Satyaprasad explained. He also said the Anti-Defection Law would not be applicable to such candidates fighting the elections with different symbols from the same party in case of the defection. It may be recalled that the PRP had moved the High Court seeking a direction to the EC in favour of its demand.