The Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi is clueless as to how to go about in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections to be held immediately and the local body elections in the next few months.
The party does not have any organisational structure even now and it is difficult to build one in a very short time. So, some leaders like Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao and Tammineni Sitaram have suggested to Chiranjeevi to have an understanding with the Telugu Desam and the Communists in the coming days, so that a stronger opposition can put up a strong fight against the Congress. “Barring TRS, we are prepared to have alliance with all the three partners of the Mahakootami, including the TDP,” Kotagiri told media persons on Friday.
In fact, the idea has come from the TDP itself. Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who tried to lure all his erstwhile party friends who joined the PRP back into the TDP, suggested that it would be in the best interests of both the TDP as well as the PRP to join hands, if the Congress has to be defeated. Those who have not come from the TDP are not accepting the idea. If such an alliance takes place, they might even prefer to join the Congress, sources say. As of now, Chiranjeevi has no answer!
The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr K. Chiranjeevi, on Wednesday, appealed to the state government to give top priority to provide safe drinking water. Participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address, Mr Chiranjeevi lamented the inability of the governments to provide water despite technological advancements. Acute drinking water crisis was forcing women to walk several miles even in districts like East and West Godavari. The Governor’s address is a dream but turns a nightmare on facing reality, he added.
Mr Chiranjeevi also said he would not mind Congress remaining in power forever as long as it catered to the needs of poor. The PR chief questioned the government on cancelling the ration cards terming them bogus after claiming credit for issuing record number of ration cards. Mr Chiranjeevi said the belt shops should be phased out.
While appreciating the Chief Minister for appointing Ms Sabita Indira Reddy as the home minister, he said a woman should be posted as excise minister to counter the damage caused by liquor in family life.
Praja Rajyam Party chief K Chiranjeevi said on Wednesday that people in Andhra Pradesh were crying for even basic needs like drinking water, while the Congress Government was making tall claims about its achievements.
“What is the use of achieving a nine per cent growth rate when people are left with parched throats? Be it the tribal areas in Adilabad district or the fertile Godavari districts, or fluoride-affected Nalgonda, lakhs of people still do not have access to safe drinking water,” Chiranjeevi said in his maiden address in the state Assembly.
The Telugu megastar, a first-time MLA, vented his anguish rather than anger over what he said sorry state of affairs and pathetic living conditions, during discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.
In his 45-minute speech, Chiranjeevi mocked at the government’s claim of registering an annual six per cent growth in the agriculture sector.
“If that is true, why have 7,500 farmers committed suicide in the last five years. Even today, farmers are suffering as they are unable to get even the minimum support price on their produce,” the PRP leader said.
Government schools were being shut down on the pretext of low enrolment, he said. “We have to explore the reasons for poor enrolment. Children are unable to get access to good education and are ending up as child labour.”
Stating that irrigation projects were required for the development of the state, Chiranjeevi said government should prioritise the schemes instead of taking up all in one go.
As per the current estimates, a staggering Rs two lakh crore will be required to complete the 81 irrigation projects taken up by the government. Where will the money come from and how many decades will it take to complete them? asked Chiranjeevi.
The actor-turned-politician said the government could create an additional “ayacut” of only 19 lakh acres in the past five years despite the promise of creating an extra irrigation potential of one crore acres.
The area served by an irrigation project such as a canal, dam or tank is called ayacut. There was no industrial development worth the name in Andhra Pradesh in the last five years even as neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu made rapid strides, he said.
“We have got many special economic zones sanctioned but not a single major industry has come up in the state so far. The SEZs are in fact turning into realty zones.”
On Telangana, Chiranjeevi said, “Commitment is important, not the number of committees you have constituted on the issue.”
Summing up, the PRP chief promised full support to good programmes initiated by the government. “We don’t mind sitting in the Opposition if you do good to the people and the state. Otherwise, people will show you your place.”
Exclusive Chiru speech in assembly 1st day Video
Chiranjeevi First Assembly Speech Video1
FIRST Speech by CHIRANJEEVI in AP Assembly Video2
chiru 1st speech in assembly Video3
Chiranjeevi dons role of legislator Video4
Chiranjeevi Taking Oath as MLA in Andhra Pradesh Assembly Video5
HYDERABAD: In a speech more appropriate for light, sound and action, Prajarajyam president Chiranjeevi said the Congress can rule the state for as long as it wants, provided it looks after the welfare of the people.
Speaking on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Chiranjeevi said the PRP is with the Congress as long as it ensures the welfare of the people by coming out with sound policies. “You can rule as long as you want. Happy. Claps, claps. But the day you ignore their welfare, we will take over,” he said in his maiden speech in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Chiranjeevi demanded that the state government address itself to drinking water problem, particularly in Adilabad and Nalgonda districts where the people were suffering from fluoride. “Though only Rs 150 crore is enough to solve the problem, the policy makers failed to take any action,” he said.
Quoting statistics, Chiranjeevi said if the agriculture sector was in good shape and if the growth rate was six per cent as claimed by the government, why 7,500 farmers committed suicide. Taking a dig at the nine-hour free power for the agriculture sector, he said what they need is at least 5 hours of uninterrupted power supply.
Pawan Kalyan is yet to join the shooting of Komaram Puli. The actor will be busy for 40 days at a stretch in Bangkok. After this the balance portion will be completed in Hyderabad.
After Puli he will be doing Puri Jagan’s film . Ganesh is the producer. Meanwhile Ram Charan’s film Magadheera is scheduled for an August release. There will be at least a month’s gap between the release of both the films.
Pavan Kalyan is keeping himself away from Prajarajyam party as Pavan is angry over Allu Arvind, according to film nagar sources, Pavan is with a hope that just because of Allu Arvind they lost in previous elections. This was strongly condemned by Chiranjeevi saying that even till today Pavan is taking care of all Yuvarajyam activities, as such he is busy with shootings that’s the reason he is keeping away from PRP affairs and not coming before media.
Pawan Kalyan who went underground after the election results is now back to work. He will soon be leaving for Bangkok. Producer Singanamala Ramesh and director SJ Suryah have planned for a 45 day shot in Bangkok for Komaram Puli.
The film has o far completed only 40 percent of the shooting. The director plans to completed abut 90 percent of the film in Bangkok. The remaining 10 percent will be completed in Hyderabad.
The songs will be canned after this and the film will be readied fro release in October.
HYDERABAD: The absence of the president of the youth wing of the Praja Rajyam, Yuva Rajyam, and party president Chiranjeevi’s younger brother Pawan Kalyan from party activities is raising some doubts about his continuation in politics.
Pawan Kalyan, who played a key role in the launching of the party, has hardly been heard from since the completion of the poll process in the State — not even to make a statement on the electoral debacle.
Pawan was not only instrumental in the launching of the party, but it is said that it was he who played a big part in urging his brother to take the plunge into politics. In fact, was also said to have greater exposure to politics than Chiranjeevi and to be on friendly terms with leaders across the spectrum.
Pawan campaigned energetically, despite bouts of fever, and often bore the brunt of criticism from Congress and Telugu Desam. His speeches electrified the audience.
But since the completion of the elections he has simply vanished from the political radar.
Rumours are rife that he might resign his post and return to films.
What lends credence to such speculation is that neither he nor Chiranjeevi have bothered to rebut it.
Meanwhile, party president Chiranjeevi has announced that there would be a revamp of the party and its youth wing. Whether Pawan continues will become clear when this happens.
Why did Praja Rajyam Party lose the elections? Well, PRP president Chiranjeevi has the answer.
According to him, most of the voters wanted to vote for the PRP, but they could not locate the rail engine symbol on the Electronic Voting Machine. The symbol was very vague. So, they chose hand, which was clearly visible and identifiable. “This is the major reason. That is the reason why we want to change our election symbol. We are going to file an appeal before the Election Commission seeking the change in symbol,” he said.
Party sources said Chiru has proposed to ask for “umbrella” symbol for the next election, since it can be easily recognised by voters.
Silly excuse, isn’t it. It is nothing but doubting the wisdom of the voters. They clearly look for symbols while voting; and if they really want to vote for the PRP, they don’t find it difficult to locate the rail engine. Even if it is umbrella, people would not vote for the party, unless they want to. It is better Chiru learns this fundamental point.
Even as Praja Rajyam Party was conducting a series of meetings to introspect into the reasons for the party’s debacle in the recent elections, one person who was conspicuous by his absence was Pavan Kalyan, president of Yuva Rajyam, the youth wing of the PRP.
Pavan Kalyan’s absence has raised many an eye brow, as he was an important element of the the party’s campaign in the elections. “He has influenced selection of several candidates, some directly and others indirectly. He was the one who played a major role in the party’s campaign strategy. So, he should have been part of the team introspecting into the party’s defeat in the elections. He cannot simply run away like that,” a party leader said.
Pavan is said to have stopped coming to the party office after the election results. Leaders in his coterie are also making occasional appearance. He is now concentrating on his next film venture, sources say.
