Chiru Guntur Tour: Will reduce the power tariff by 50% to the rural domestic consumers

Chiranjeevi in Guntur Roadshow on Monday, 9th Feb 2009.

MANGALAGIRI (GUNTUR): Braving the scorching sun, women in this temple town in Guntur district on Monday waited patiently for over five hours as they lined up on rooftops and street corners to have a glimpse of their matinee idol Chiranjeevi. Well, no one complained about the long wait. Their agonising ordeal ended around 2.30 pm when the Prajarajyam party chief’s convoy entered the town. Then in a cinematic style, the women, irrespective of age, rose on their toes to rain flowers on their hero in the temple street.

An overwhelmed Chiranjeevi said: “How can I repay your gratitude? Except for bowing my head in front of you.” The traffic on the national highway too came to a grinding halt for over two hours as it took a long time for Chiranjeevi’s convoy to enter the town from the helipad, located aside of the highway.

Amidst loud cheering and noisy sloganeering that rented the air for quite a while, the PRP president laid focus on issues relevant to women, as he promised to provide the entire provisions for a family for Rs 100 if his party is elected to power.

“We will reduce the power tariff by 50 per cent to the rural domestic consumers in order to lessen the burden on the women,” he said. Lashing out at the main political players in the state, Chiranjeevi blamed both the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party for the ills plaguing the commoners’ lives.

“Both the parties have encouraged the rich and scamsters at the cost of the poor people,” he said. Highlighting the problems of handloom weavers in the town which has a sizeable weavers’ population, Chiranjeevi recalled that he had first visited the handloom town of Sircilla after launching the PRP.

He said the Congress and the TDP were equally responsible for the suicides of the weavers. “We will sanction free power to all the artisans, including weavers,” he declared while the crowds clapped non-stop. The massive response of the crowd even delayed his convoy to move ahead in the small streets of the town.

“We have waited since morning for him. He (Chiru) has promised to take care of all our problems,” said a beaming Meerabi in Ratham Centre. As the convoy sped past her, Dalit woman Saramma vowed to vote for Chiranjeevi as she alleged that the Congress government has refused to allow a pucca house for her. Curiously, she was seen enquiring about the election symbol of Chiranjeevi’s party with the youth dancing and jumping ahead of Chiru’s vehicle.

Though the streets wore a deserted look in the morning, they were jampacked by noon. Chiranjeevi would be in the district for next four days as part of his Praja Ankitha Yatra where he would touch almost 15 assembly segments of the total 17 constituencies.

PRP to release first of candidates by Feb end

HYDERABAD: As the schedule for the next general elections may be announced anytime from now, the Praja Rajyam Party is likely to release the first list of candidates by the end of this month.

Party president Chiranjeevi himself revealed it to the media before leaving for Praja Ankita Yatra in Guntur district today.

The party has decided to involve all the leaders of the party in selection of the candidates and wants to give tickets for competitive personss. Chiranjeevi reportedly discussed the issue with the party’s political affairs committee members and directed them to start the process of selection of candidates.

Accordingly the PAC has prepared a questionnaire and circulated it among the party leaders.

In charges, conveners of the districts, leaders of the Yuva Rajyam and Mahila Rajyam, State committee members were asked to study the aspirants in the constituencies and judge the competence of the candidates. They were asked to send back the questionnaire within a week.

The party has decided to select candidates on six parameters. It wants the candidate to have integrity and morality, should not have a criminal background, must be popular with the voters of the constituency, should adhere to party principle of social justice.

The party leaders have to examine the aspirants in the light of these parameters and suggest a candidate for the constituency. In case of more than one candidate who satisfies all these parameters the discretion to select the candidates will lie with the state leaders.

The party is eager to release the first list of candidates by the end of this month and wants to complete the selection process as early as possible.

Chiru Guntur Tour: Comprehensive package for handloom weavers

Praja Rajyam chief K. Chiranjeevi addressing people during Praja Ankitha Yatra in Mangalagiri town in Guntur district on Monday, 9th Feb 2009.

February 10th 2009 – MANGALAGIRI (GUNTUR Dt.): Praja Rajyam Party president K. Chiranjeevi on Monday promised a comprehensive package for handloom weavers that would form part of the party’s manifesto to be released shortly. This town, which is the abode of Panakala Narasimhaswamy, turned into a sea of humanity as huge crowds lined the main road to welcome the actor.

Kicking off his five-day Praja Ankita Yatra, Mr. Chiranjeevi said that he was fully aware of the problems being faced by handloom weavers, adding that a bailout plan would be spelled out in the party manifesto. Reiterating his other promises of free power to all skilled artisans, 50 per cent concession in power tariff to the farm sector and provision of essential commodities like rice, dal, oil and tamarind for Rs.100, he appealed for ‘change’.

Tumultuous welcome
The actor-turned-politician reached here in a helicopter that landed on a make-shift helipad in a field, two-and-a-half hours behind schedule to a tumultuous welcome by party workers and fans associations.

Addressing the crowds at Rajiv Chowk, the PR supremo went on to deride both the Congress and the TDP reminding people that the time had come for ‘change’ and exhorted them to vote out the corrupt politicians. He said that though the State had been blessed with abundant natural resources, most people had been living in a state of penury and blamed the politicians for the poor state of affairs.

He recalled the years he had spent in Mangalagiri, studying classes 1-3. “I along with my brother Nagendra Babu used to climb the hill and worship Panakala Narasimha Swamy,” he said.

Chiru Guntur Tour: Rs.5 lakhs large party flag post in Mangalagiri constituency

Mega colours: A local commercial painter giving final touches to a large cut-out of Praja Rajyam Party founder Chiranjeevi on the eve of his tour in Guntur district from 9th feb 2009.

February 9th 2009 – GUNTUR: Police issued specific guidelines to Praja Rajyam Party here not to conduct roadshows on National Highway No.5 while party founder Chiranjeevi travels from Mangalagiri to Guntur city on Monday on the inaugural day of his five-day visit to the district.

Making slight changes in the schedule and route of Mr. Chiranjeevi’s tour party leader Thota Chandrasekhar Rao said on Sunday that the party founder would land at the Ratnala Cheruvu site in Mangalagiri at 9.30 a.m. and conduct road show passing through all important junctions in the town and come to Guntur in the evening . He would resume his road show on the particular stretches approved by the police.

Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha said that party leaders have been told not to conduct road show where the density of traffic was high and on National/State Highways in the other places in the district. Massive cut-outs have been readied at all junctions in the city and flex banners are coming up on a large scale — put up by the ticket aspirants welcoming their party leaders.

One person has gone to the extent of putting together a large party flag post at a cost of Rs.5 lakhs at Yerrabalem in Mangalagiri constituency. The enthusiasm is the highest in the Mangalagiri constituency where a large population of Kapu community is eagerly waiting for Chiranjeevi to visit their village. A sizeable population of the community in Guntur city clubbed with enthusiasm of the fans’ associations, a large gathering is expected at all places.

The exact route is undergoing a change by the minute with the aspirants influencing the organisers of the tour to take through their village so that their chances of getting a ticket was high. The district and city unit office-bearers headed by Sankrothi Rama Rao and Kilaru Roshaiah were busy with arrangements.

Vedavyas’ entry brings cheer to PRP cadre

Buragadda Vedavyas from Malleswaram constituency

February 8th 2009 – VIJAYAWADA: Coming into the Krishna district unit of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) at a time when it is in a crisis, Buragadda Vedavyas from Malleswaram constituency, who gave up membership of the Assembly after resigning from the Congress on February 4, has brought new cheer to the party leaders and cadres.

He came to the party urban office on Saturday in an impressive rally and met local leaders along with enthusiastic followers. Mr. Vedavyas said any new party would face initial hiccups and teething troubles, but these should not be taken as indications of a long-time problem.

“We will sort out these differences. We will move ahead and make Chiranjeevi the future chief minister of the State,” he asserted, speaking to reporters.

Mr. Vedavyas said he would make all efforts to strengthen the party in Krishna district and there was a lot of support from all areas.

It would not be possible for the leadership to accommodate all aspiring leaders in the party, though everybody was entitled to his or her own desires.

This should not be allowed to create a crisis and there would be smooth sailing once things were in place.

Asked about his family’s long-time association with the Congress, Mr. Vedavyas said he would not criticise the ruling party for lack of development in the State, but it was a fact that the fruits of development did not reach all the needy people.

He asserted that real development would take place under a committed leader like Chiranjeevi, which’s why he entered the PRP with full conviction.

Scores of Vedavyas’s followers came from his constituency and Mahila Rajyam leaders also greeted him in the party office.

The cadres garlanded him and welcomed him with bouquets.

On his first visit to the district after joining the PRP in the presence of Chiranjeevi in Hyderabad on Feb 5, an impressive rally was taken out from Ibrahimpatnam to the party office at Sikhamani Centre.

Chiru to begin his Guntur tour from Mangalagiri

GUNTUR: Much-awaited visit of Praja Rajyam Party founder Chiranjeevi has finally been announced with the former cinema star beginning his tour from February 9 at Mangalagiri.

At a press conference here on Friday, the Praja Rajyam city convener Kilaru Roshaiah told mediapersons that the party leader was busy with several party activities with regard to manifesto, hence the visit got delayed.

Mr. Chiranjeevi would, however, tour all the 17 Assembly constituencies in the district during his six-day schedule .

The party president would arrive by a helicopter at Kantheru opposite Acharya Nagarjuna University on Monday morning and proceed to Mangalagiri, from there to Thulluru, Tadikonda and reach Guntur city by evening.

After addressing meetings in the city, he would make a night halt at Budampadu close to National Highway No.5.

He would proceed to Tenali via Narakoduru, and reach Vemuru, Ponnuru and make night halt at Chandole on the second day.

On day three he would proceed to Repalle via Cherukupalli and reach Bapatla via Karlapalem.

On day 4 he would begin his journey from Bapatla and would proceed to Kakumanu and Prattipadu.

From there he would visit Santamagaluru via Chilakaluripet and Narsaraopet.

After night halt at Santamagaluru, he would visit Vinukonda, Karempudi, Durgi, Macherla and Rentachintala, and make a night halt at Gurazala.

On the last day he would start his journey from Dachepalli and would proceed to Piduguralla, Sattenapalli, Pedakurapadu and Amaravathi.

He would leave for Hyderabad by helicopter from Amaravathi.

Meanwhile, the ward committees have been finalised in the Guntur city and women activists are visiting from door to door to campaign for the party founder’s tour in the district by applying vermilion.

PRP Wins Legal Battle for Poll Symbol

February 5th 2009 – HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam leaders were relieved when the A. P. High Court on Friday sent back to the Election Commission of India the issue of allotment of a common election symbol with a direction to the EC to reconsider the matter.

The Bench comprising Justice B. Prakasa Rao and Justice Bhavani Prasad was disposing of on Friday a writ petition filed by PR complaining against the EC’s action in refusing to allot a common symbol – railway engine.

The High Court directed the EC to reprocess the PR’s application in the light of the observations made in earlier judgments.

It granted three weeks time to the EC to pass fresh orders. Similar order was given in favour of Mana Party of Kasani Gnaneswar which filed a separate petition for allotment of symbol.

Appearing for the Praja Rajyam, Vedula Venkata Ramana said the EC had allotted a common symbol to the Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) under similar circumstances but was refusing to treat his client in the same manner. According to the rules governing the allotment of symbols, a political party would get a permanent symbol based on the votes its candidates poll in the general elections preceding the application.

These rules did not contemplate a situation where a political party which had a massive following and a huge membership comes into being between two general elections and makes an application for a common symbol. Mr. Venkata Ramana lamented that the purpose of fair, dynamic electoral process would be reduced to a mockery if a major political party is refused a symbol.

Special Correspondent adds: The state election machinery headed by Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao is reportedly “inclined” to make a positive recommendation for such allotment if and when the EC seeks its opinion, sources said.

Will of the people:

The CEO, the sources added, is inclined to see the reason in the PR argument on the ground the popular following enjoyed by the PR represented will of the people, big or small, and this could not be reflected through votes properly unless a common symbol was granted.

Chiru Nizamabad tour boosts party leaders’ morale

NIZAMABAD: The four-day road shows of the Praja Rajyam party chief Chiranjeevi from Februarty 1 to 4 in the district boosted the morale of the party leaders and activists as there were milling crowds everywhere along his route from Baswapur to Sadasivnagar where he concluded the tour.

Youth, particularly students ran along his convoy in frenzy and girls, women and housewives welcomed him with cheerful faces standing rooftops. Happiness writ large on their faces as soon as they saw the matinee idol turned politician and lustily waved hands. On the first and second days the road shows were successful more than the expectations of the PR functionaries. In the Kamareddy, once the strong hold of Telangana Rashtra Samithi the Ganj was packed with people waiting to have the glimpse of megastar.

PRP to wage legal battle for common symbol

Praja Rajyam President Chiranjeevi

KISAN NAGAR (NIZAMABAD DT.): Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi has said his party will embark on a legal battle for the election symbol to his party. Some technical problems are being created at the Election Commission to stop the allotment of single symbol to the party, he said.

At a press conference here in Balkonda constituency on Wednesday, he said a silent revolution was in store and in the ensuing election, the voters would give a clear verdict in favour of PR. This is indicated by the response coming from the people to his party, he added.

Addressing a huge gathering of residents later at Morthad mandal headquarters, he questioned Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s bias in sanctioning Rs.225 to Yogi Vemana University at Kadapa and a mere Rs.25 crore to Telangana University, though both were established at the same time.

On the last leg of his four-day tour, Mr. Chiranjeevi dwelt on local issues like construction of Babli project across Godavari in Maharashtra, red jowar, allocation of funds to Telangana University and beedi workers’ problems.

The roadshow which began in the afternoon here ended at Sadasivanagar on National Highway-7 .

Mr. Chiranjeevi earlier tendered his sincere apology to the residents and fans associations of Madhavnagar and Nadipally villages for not having stopped his vehicle the previous day.

PRP’s door-to-door campaign

February 5th 2009 – VIZIANAGARAM: Praja Rajyam Party district unit took out a rally from Mayuri junction on Wednesday on the occasion of completing padayatra in the constituency for 18 days. M. Venkataramana, convenor of the party, told reporters that during the yatra it was noticed that welfare schemes had not reached the eligible.