'Mega' turn in Andhra

HYDERABAD: The already hazy political and social scenario in the state has been given a terrific tailspin by the victory of Democrat first-time
senator from Illinois Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United State of America.

Since 2006, a political and social challenge has been posed to the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party, the two parties which have ruled Andhra Pradesh since the inception of the state in 1956, by a megastar called Chiranjeevi, who after much dilly-dallying, took the plunge into politics in August 2008.

Since then, the social dynamics here has been plunged into a state of enormous flux. On the one side are the Reddys, who by unofficial accounts, constitute 8 per cent of the population and on the other, are the Kammas, who form about 9 per cent of the state population of roughly eight crore. These two communities have actually been the rulers of the state till now.

Chiranjeevi, a Kapu, whose community constitute 22 per cent of the population, is also a forward caste, as are Velmas. But what Chiranjeevi's entry into the political arena has done is to threaten to change the political and social scenario in the state. This is because of a sudden enthusiasm of support for the megastar from the Backward Classes, who form about 35 to 40 per cent of the state's population. Divided among sub-sects like Gouds, Yadavs, Muddirajs, and hundreds of others, they had no choice but to depend on either the Congress or the TDP for their survival, and have been with these two political parties for the past five decades.

But with Chiranjeevi's entry, a hope is dawning on them that there is a possibility of their political empowerment. "Chiranjeevi is a Kapu, a forward caste. But under the Reddys and the Kammas, we have no choice of political empowerment. We are hoping that Chiranjeevi would be able to change that. That is why there is an enthusiasm among the Backward Classes and the Scheduled Castes that we ride with him, though I am not sure how many of us would actually turn up on the day of voting and cast the vote for him," said one BC leader and MP who did not want to be named.

It is in this context that Obama's victory can perhaps marshall all these forces together. "If Obama can do it, so can we," was the reaction of another BC leader and Rajya Sabha member from the Congress.

Thus, in the final analysis, Obama making it as the President of the US may have a significant effect on state politics. Because of his victory, the political and social churning already happening in Andhra Pradesh may have just got whirled up by an electronic blender.

My actor versus your actor is Andhra politics

Hyderabad, November 7 : Megastar Chiranjeevi may have launched his own party but there are many other actors who are scripting a new political campaign in Andhra Pradesh, one in which the reel stars often push the real politicians to the background. The latest to join the star-studded political bandwagon is Telugu superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna, famous for his angry young man roles in both Telugu and Hindi films.
While Nagarjuna has not really aligned himself with the Congress, he has been appearing in TV advertisements of state-sponsored housing and medical insurance schemes, taking over from Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy who was earlier seen in such two-minute commercials.


However, it is still unclear if Nagarjuna actually nurses any political ambititons. In the run-up to the 2004 elections too, the actor had appeared in TDP-sponsored advertisements asking people to vote. He is also a friend of Chiranjeevi. When contacted, his office said Nagarjuna was busy shooting and refused to comment.

I too will win like Obama: Chiru

Khammam Nov 6: The Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi on Thursday drew parallels between himself and US president-elect Barack Obama and said he would score a massive victory like the latter. Addressing a packed public gathering in Kothagudem on Thursday, Chiranjeevi said he was also fighting for social justice like Obama. The megastar pointed out that the United States, which was dominated by whites, elected Obama, an American-African, as their new President.

“Here too, the people will give a win to Praja Rajyam that is fighting for social justice,” he said. “Our people should also follow the Americans to give scope for social justice. I think people of our state also want change.” Chiranjeevi said that the Praja Rajyam came into existence on the slogan of social justice and the party would give priority to the oppressed sections. Many castes and sections were kept away from power for generations and these things had to change, he added. In Julurpad, the Praja Rajyam leader referred to a local primary health centre that was not working well and found fault with the two ministers who hailed from the district.

“Though Khammam district had two ministers looking after medical and health, tribal people have been succumbing to malaria and other fevers,” he said. Chiranjeevi alleged that the leaders were giving priority to increase their bank balances and were not trying to protect the health of the people. “I come before you not as leader but as a servant,” he said. “You should change society by bringing in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

megastar4u

BHADRACHALAM: Praja Rajyam party (PRP) president Chiranjeevi’s second leg of Praja Ankita Yatra in Telangana districts of Karimangar, Warangal and Khammam ended today on a sour note.


When he resumed his yatra this morning at Tallada, members of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) stopped his convoy demanding that he spell out his stand on classification of SCs. The actor had to deal with them for a while as they would not allow him to proceed further. Then he told that he would study the issue and then make a statement.

Later, the yatra resumed and ended at Bhadrachalam uneventfully.

The actor looked a bit tired as his yatra came to a close. It began on October 30 at Sircilla in Karimnagar and covered 650 km, traversing through 25 assembly constituencies.

All along the tour, the actor drew good response from the youth. His road shows went into late nights and one night it went up to 2 a.m. People waited to see their matinee idol in flesh and blood for hours on the roads. At every gathering, youth were found in big numbers much to the delight of their hero.

During his tour, he tried to drive home the point that no one in the State was happy with the present political and administrative system and promised a change in their lives. He touched several key issues bothering the people like the suicide by farmers and lack of support price for agricultural produce.

The PRP president focussed on corruption in the State and held it responsible for the lopsided growth in the State. He urged the people to come in his support to root out corruption.

Speaking at Tallada from where he began his tour in this leg this morning, he called upon the people to make him a Barack Obama of the State, who won the presidential battle in the United States of America.

“The powerful countries are also looking for a change. See what happened in America.

The people handed over the reigns to a black eventhough the country is dominated by whites,’’ he said.

At Julurupadu, for the first time, he attacked the Telugu Desam party for its promises. He said that leaders were promising that they would give everything free of cost. However, the people do not want alms but jobs for livelihood, he affirmed.