Chiranjeevi launches Prajya Rajyam party
Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi on Tuesday launched his political party Praja Rajyam (People's Rule) and said social justice would be its goal. "It will be a democratic and secular party. It will be people's party, born from the hearts of people. It will be a party for backward classes, farmers, workers, women and youth," he said, addressing thousands gathered for the launch in Tirupati.
"The party will work for development, modernisation and industrial revolution. Its goal will be santosh and ananda (contentment and happiness) of Andhra Pradesh," he said amid loud cheers from an estimated million people gathered from across Andhra Pradesh.
Tirupathi crowded with Chiru Fans
The temple town is teeming with huge crowds, including a large number of physically challenged and women fans of the actor. Slogans of 'Jai Chiranjeeva' rent the air as the thousands of fans stepped off at the railway station and bus stops. Hotels, lodges, guest houses and function halls have been booked as well.
The railways have operated 18 special trains while state-owned Road Transport Corporation is running 1,500 buses. Thousands of private vehicles are also ferrying Chiranjeevi's fans from different parts of the state. The majority of the people have come from coastal Andhra as the actor hails from the region.
The town is decked up with huge cutouts of the actor and banners hailing his entry into politics. Hoardings showing the actor in different moods have been erected on every road.
Chiru, who turned 53 last Friday, has bid adieu to his three-decade film career and has decided to dedicate his life to serve the poor and the needy. It is in this context that he decided to launch the party on Aug 26, the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa.
Chiru's party is expected to emerge as a major political force in the state. His fans see him as the next chief minister and feel he would emerge as powerful as matinee idol NT Rama Rao, who changed the course of Andhra politics by coming to power within nine months after launching the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982.
