Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi, at times, turns philosophical, while putting up a brave front on the party’s survival in some other times.
Reacting to the resignation of Dr P Mitra from the party, Chiranjeevi said there was no loss to the party, even if Mitra resigned. “He has done it for his personal reasons. It does not affect the party. Tomorrow, I may not be there in the party, but it will continue to exist,” he said.
It is not known whether he really wants to step out of the party or said it in a casual manner, but it shows the sorry state of affairs in the PRP. What will be the morale of the party leaders, if the president himself speaks so philosophically?
Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi will meet the party candidates who lost in the Assembly elections in the next two weeks. The meetings will commence on June 15 here and will continue up to 26.
In a press release, the party leaders said on June 15 Chiranjeevi would meet candidates of Adilabad, Anantapur and Srikakulam districts and on 16, those from Nizamabad, Kurnool and Vizianagaram districts. He would meet the candidates of Karimnagar, Kadapa and Visakhapatnam districts on 20, those from Khammam, Chittoor and East Godavari districts on 22 and the candidates from Mahaboobnagar, Nellore and West Godavari districts on 23. On June 24, Chiranjeevi would meet candidates of Nalgonda, Prakasam and Krishna districts.
On 25 and 26 he would interact with the nominees of Medak, Guntur and Warangal districts and Rangareddy and Hyderabad respectively. The PRP president would discuss the issues related to the party organisation and on the preparations for the local body elections.
PRP wants sub quota
Meanwhile, the PRP has decided to demand sub quota for BCs, SCs and STs in the women’s reservation bill to be tabled in Parliament soon. The party discussed the issue at a meeting presided over by Chiranjeevi and felt that unless BCs, SCs and STs were given sub quota in the reservation for women, the objective of the bill would not be achieved.
It appears that the party had decided to follow the line taken by the Samajwadi
Party with which it wanted to form a fourth front at the Centre.
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
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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.
PRP Chief Chiranjeevi is negotiating with senior leaders on deputing committees at district level, Mandal, and Village level, in order to elect District head of party he is getting with as much information as possible. Chiru intends to depute a strong man at weaker hold sections. Chiranjeevi wants to adopt Raithu Rajyam and Karmika Rajyam committees.
Governor ND Tiwari addressed the joint session of Assembly (MLC & MLAs) today in the central hall of the assembly.
Reacting to the Governor’s speech Chiru said ‘The speech of Governor looks like the screen play written for Congress party’s election campaign. If the State income is going up, why the farmers are committing suicide? Roshaiah committee is eye wash on Teleangana issue. The Government couldn’t dare to accept the truth. If the projects are not built on priority basis, the state’s financial position will be in soup
Excitement is building up on the eve of the first session of the 13th Assembly. While the recharged Congress members, who rode to power on the crest of pro- YS Rajasekhara Reddy wave, are raring to go, Megastaxr Chiranjeevi too is eager to enter the portals of the Assembly for the first time, with his 17 MLAs, giving the lower house a touch of Tollywood glamour.
The session might not witness the usual fireworks as no issues would be taken up for discussion.
Oath-taking by MLAs who include 147 new faces, Speaker’s election, Governor’s address, discussion on the address and the Chief Minister’s reply would be the agenda for this short session which will end on June 9 or 10.
There is a festive atmosphere in the Congress camp. Though the TDP is a stronger opposition now compared to the 12th Assembly, the Congress members are high on confidence and are eager to take part in the proceedings. The ruling party, however, is struck by a tragedy. Even before he was sworn in as MLA, Tekkali legislator Revathipathi died today at a private hospital in Visakhapatnam following a cardiac problem.
A condolence motion would be moved to mourn his death. There would be no Question Hour or other business proceedings in this session. According to Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Konijeti Rosaiah, prior to commencement of the session, senior member and former minister JC Diwakar Reddy would take oath as Pro tem Speaker at the Raj Bhavan at 9 am.
He would then administer oath to the newly-elected MLAs in the Assembly session that begins at 10.30 am. After Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and floor leaders of other political parties take oath, other members will be called in an alphabetical order of their names for swearing in. With 294 members to take oath – 156 Congress, 92 TDP, 18 PRP, 10 TRS, 7 MIM, 4 CPI, 2 BJP, one each of CPM, Lok Satta and three Independents – the process is expected to take six hours to complete.
Rosaiah urged all MLAs, particularly the first-timers, to bring their declaration certificate issued by the Returning Officer to avoid inconvenience at the Assembly entrance gate.
Five passes were being issued to each MLA to bring in their family members or friends. Three large LCD screens would be placed outside the Assembly to show the proceedings live.
Filing of nominations for the Speaker’s post would take place between 10.30 am and 5 pm tomorrow.
Congress party had already declared Piler MLA N Kiran Kumar Reddy as its candidate for the post. Floor leaders G Kishan Reddy (BJP) and Akbaruddin Owaisi (MIM) would file a set of nominations in support of Kiran Kumar Reddy.
As per the agenda proposed, the session would begin tomorrow at 10.30 am for oath-taking of MLAs.
The Speaker would be elected on June 4. The Governor would address a joint session of the Legislative Council and Assembly at the Central Hall on June 5 at 11 am. Discussion and the Chief Minister’s reply on the Governor’s address would take place on June 8 and 9. There would be no session on June 6 and 7. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by the Speaker would finalise the agenda.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for the first session of the new Assembly.
The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr K. Chiranjeevi, has given ample indications in the last two days that he was game for the Congress strategy to use him as a foil to weaken the Telugu Desam.
Surprising even his partymen, he announced on Friday that the PR would not contest from Tekkali if the Congress fielded a family member of Mr Revathipathi who died before taking oath. He also announced support for the Women’s Reservation Bill to be piloted by the Congress.
Though Mr Chiranjeevi told mediapersons that the decision not to field a candidate in Tekkali was taken on humanitarian grounds, most people read more into it.
“Though it is a good gesture it would have been politically prudent for us to wait for the Congress to make the first move and then announce it,” said a Praja Rajyam MLA.
Party leaders feel that Mr Chiranjeevi’s attempt to make a positive impression might give people the feeling that PR was sailing with the Congress. The Congress is delighted by the megastar’s gesture since it will make it difficult for the TD to field its candidate. Top advisers of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, have already drawn up a strategy to counter the TD chief through Mr Chiranjeevi.
This was evident from the way the ruling party members kept thumping benches when the PR chief indirectly attacked the TD during his maiden speech in the House. Mr Chiranjeevi had found fault with Mr Naidu’s stand on the Speaker election and this was appreciated by the treasury benches.
“He should cut into the TD base more than what he did in the recent elections for us to be comfortable in the coming local body polls,” said a senior minister.
The ruling party is also trying to taunt the TD by giving more time to Mr Chiranjeevi to speak.
