Former Union Minister Parvataneni Upendra who resigned from Congress last week, joined the Prajya Rajyam in the presence of Chiranjeevi, on Monday.

Former Union Minister Parvataneni Upendra, who resigned from Congress last week, joined the Prajya Rajyam in the presence of Chiranjeevi, on Monday. Chiranjeevi said the party would benefit from Upendra’s rich political experience. He is the second senior politician after former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader P Shivshankar, who joined Prajya Rajyam on November 15. Upendra will work as an advisor for Prajya Rajyam.

The two-time Lok Sabha member from Vijayawada had quit Congress party last week. He said that he was more or less idle since 1999 as the Congress leadership did not use his services either at the national level or in the state. He had joined Congress in 1994, after being expelled from the Telugu Desam party.

Reacting to this development Lagadapati Rajagopal, Congress MP and son-in-law of Upendra said he is ready to contest against his Father-in-law from Vijayawada and added that he has no intentions to leave Congress.

Praja Rajyam office inaugurated in Bhimavaram by Pothula Balaji, physically challenged person on Sunday

Praja Rajyam Party office near town railway station was inaugurated by Pothula Balaji, physically challenged person on Sunday. PRP leader Gunnabahtula Srinivas presided over the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Gunupudi Suryanarayana, in-charge of PRP,said both Telugu Desam and Congress were in a state of extreme fear due to entry of Chiranjeevi into politics. He said corruption had become rampant in the Congress GovernmentParty leader K.P.N. Prasad said all members of the party, including women, should strive hard to strengthen the PRP to teach a bitter lesson to Congress and TDP.

PRP leaders P.V.L. Narasimha Raju, D.S.Raju, U.Raghava Rao, K.Veera Raghava Rao, Babu Rao, V.Leela Rani, Addanki Rama Devi and Deva Padmavathi also spoke.

Chiranjeevi’s poser to YSR

Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi on Monday dared Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to spell out what he did for his birthplace Balapanur in Kadapa district.

At a press conference to announce the entry of former Union Minister P. Upendra into the PR, he wondered why Dr. Reddy was repeatedly criticising him and asking him what he had done for Mogalturu, his (Chiranjeevi’s) native village.

“Dr. Reddy was born in Balapanur, but migrated to Pulivendula. He may have developed Pulivendula, but if I ask him to say what he has done for his native place, what will he reply?”, he asked.

Given the PR president’s obsession with ‘Gandhigiri’ and decency, decorum and etiquette in politics, this is the first time he has directly taken the name of the Chief Minister, that too, after he has been repeatedly criticised on several occasions.

Referring specifically to the flak he got for twirling his moustache and slapping his thigh like he did in the superhit movie ‘Indra’ in Kadapa district, Mr. Chiranjeevi said these actions were signs of a man’s ‘pourusham’ (courage) but not ‘rowdyism or goondaism’. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had a lot of ‘pourusham’.

The PR president also defended the party welcoming seniors into its fold, saying they were joining hands not with any aspirations for a position or power but only expressing their concern for the poor and deprived sections

Praja Rajyam is busy weighing its option in choosing its ally

HYDERABAD: With the left parties almost inking their pact with the Telugu Desam Party, the core committee of Praja Rajyam is busy weighing its option in choosing its ally in the run up to the next elections a few months away.

On record though, spokesman Parakala Prabhakar reiterated that given the ‘stupendous’ response from the people to party president K. Chiranjeevi’s ‘Praja Ankita Yatra’, they were in favour of going to the hustings alone.

‘Too early’

When asked about national-level leaders meeting Mr. Chiranjeevi or party general secretary Allu Aravind, he said it was too early for anyone to forge alliances.

“When senior leaders of other political leaders come here and convey their wish to meet our president and other seniors, courtesy demands that we meet. And when they come up with expressions of interest about political alliances, we cannot reject them outright,” he said, in response to a question referring to Mr. Aravind meeting CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan when the latter was in the city on Saturday. Meanwhile, the CPI State secretary K. Narayana still does not rule out the possibility of an alliance with them. While talk about Praja Rajyam shaking hands with Telangana Rashtra Samiti still hangs in balance, it is reliably understood that Nava Telangana Party president T. Devender Goud is close to clinching a possible electoral alliance.

The PRP opens its office here on Saturday at Danavaipeta.

Rajahmundry: The Praja Rajyam Party is going to open its office here on Saturday at Danavaipeta.

Announcing this on Thursday at a press conference, party leader M. Nageswara Rao said that the office was equipped with computers.

Mr. Nageswara Rao said party’s in-charge for East and West Godavari districts Tammineni Sitaram would inaugurate the office. Division-wise committees, comprising some 15 to 20 members, would be constituted soon, he said. He said that a cell for constituted to monitor the membership drive. Stating the changes, if any, in the voter list would be made between December 3 and 17 as per the directive of the Election Commission, he said that the party would ensure that all those who had attained 18 years would be enrolled this time. BC leaders of the party from East and West Godavari, Krishna and Khammam districts would meet in Hyderabad on Friday. A meeting of lawyers belonging to the party would meet in Hyderabad on November 22, he said.

Chiranjeevi Fans Association district president Y. Srinivasa Rao and others were present.

The Lok Satta Party condemned the attack on PRP leaders at Pulivendula

The Lok Satta Party condemned the attack on PRP leaders at Pulivendula on a Press meet at hyderabad. It requested Congress party to win the heart of people by democratic activities.

Chiranjeevi hits out at YSR after attack on party leaders

Hyderabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Hours after the attack by ruling Congress party activists on the leaders of his Praja Rajyam party, Chiranjeevi took on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the latter’s home district Kadpa. Addressing massive crowds in Pulivendula town Wednesday, Chiranjeevi intelligently criticised the chief minister for not ensuring development of other parts of the state on par with his home constituency.

Chiranjeevi, whose ongoing ‘yatra’ entered the chief minister’s assembly constituency Pulivendula, also wondered if a ‘Special Political Zone’ has been created in the region.

“The government is creating many Special Economic Zones (SEZs) but it should not create a ‘Special Political Zone’,” he said while referring to the attack on Praja Rajyam leaders and activists in the town Tuesday night.

“The chief minister says that everybody has the right to form a party and contest the elections in a democracy but his philosophy has not gone down to the grassroots level,” the actor said.

“I may not have money and muscle power but I have the support of my fans,” he said amid loud cheers by the crowd. He also appealed to his fans to remain peaceful.

Thousands of people turned up to catch a glimpse of Chiranjeevi, who is already locked in a war of words with the chief minister.

The Praja Rajyam founder denied Reddy’s allegation that the actor did nothing for his native village Mogalturu in West Godavari district despite being a superstar for 30 years and earning millions of rupees.

He said if Praja Rajyam comes to power, he would turn every village in the state into Mogalturu.

Chiranjeevi reiterated his allegation that the chief minister was showing favour only on his constituency. “I wish if he has taken care of every village and town like this,” he said.

Chiranjeevi, who began his ‘yatra’ in the faction-ridden Rayalseema region Sunday, has been criticising Reddy and the Congress government for “corruption” and “lack of development”.

Chiranjeevi’s security was stepped up after some miscreants attacked Praja Rajyam leaders and activists. Seven people were injured and seven cars were damaged in the attack.

Blaming the ruling Congress party for the attack, Praja Rajyam Wednesday urged director general of police and state human rights commission to intervene and bring the culprits to book.

The miscreants attacked the guest house where Praja Rajyam leaders and former ministers K. Vidyadhar Rao and Shoba Nagi Reddy were holding a press conference to deplore the action of some Congress activists in burning and tearing away their party posters and banners in the town.

Praja Rajyam leaders alleged that the police did not act as stick-wielding Congress activists went on the rampage, damaging their cars and manhandling those present in the guest house.

Congress activists also staged a sit-in before the guest house demanding an apology from Praja Rajyam leaders for criticising Reddy and demanding his resignation.

The attack and protest led to tension in the town as police increased security around the Praja Rajyam office.