If it is true, it will be no doubt a sad end to an otherwise promising career in AP politics. Sources have confirmed that former minister Chiranjeevi has put a full stop to his political career.
The actor-turned-politician has lost all interest in politics for his own reasons and he is not going to campaign for Congress in Telangana in coming December nor he is showing up in AP’s 2019 elections.
He has not renewed his membership of the party and kept silent on this. He has not responded positively either to Congress high command’s invitation to campaign for the party in early polls in Telangana. It is for sure that he is not going to support any party, not even Jana Sena of his beloved brother Pawan Kalyan.
Chiru is a self-made man with a rare record of having climbed to top position in South Indian film industry. He had a huge fan following among youth across Telugu states. His 150th film ‘Khaidi No 150’ was a blockbuster having made collected big money in Indian and overseas.
In politics, there has never been one instance when Chiru tasted similar success. Nothing succeeds like success, they say. It was true in respect of incomparable NTR who entered the AP political scene when there were no prior film personalities who challenged all-dominating Congress and aimed at CM post.
Chiranjeevi founded Praja Rajyam Party in August, 2008, and formally announced its formation by addressing an impressive, massive public meeting at the temple town of Tirupati the same year. In 2009 elections, his PRP won 18 assembly segments by getting a vote share of 16.22 per cent when present ruling TRS party in Telangana got just 3.99 per cent.
KCR built up his party from there by stepping up Telangana agitation till the formation of separate state in 2014 and grabbed power finally without any charisma. But Chiranjeevi lost out in the race because of lack of political correctness, experience and planning. He strongly stood for Samaikyandhra (United AP) struggle which eventually made him unpopular in Hyderabad and in Telangana region. It was seen as a tactical blunder. Amid that confusion, Chiru accepted Union Minister post and merged his party with Congress, which came to be called as a historic self-goal. Rivals called this merger of PRP as an outcome of a bad decision made for immediate personal gains and nothing more. Chandrababu Naidu accused Chiru of closing down PRP only to prefer his self interests rather than his pet theme of social justice.
There were also allegations from the beginning that Chiru’s brother-in-law Allu Arvind has interfered with all aspects of running PRP which caused lot of damage to the party overtime.
Chiranjeevi has a lot of charisma even now in Telangana region but he is not going to figure anywhere in electioneering this time. His co-actress Vijayashanti has already plunged into campaign for Congress and she is attacking KCR and his family. Former Minister T. Devender Goud merged his Nava Telangana Party with PRP and he was made vice president of the party. Even this did not help PRP gain any strength in Telangana at that time.
In 2009 polls, Chiranjeevi gave tough time to all major parties by making his party’s presence felt in every segment which had an impact on final election results eventually. He held social justice as main goal for his PRP party. It promised land to the poor families, implementation of total prohibition in phases, supply of groceries per month at Rs. 1,000 and LPG cylinder supply at Rs. 100.
There was definitely a lot of sadness around formation and merger of PRP. Pawan Kalyan blamed the downfall of PRP on several forces that hatched political conspiracies to sabotage Chiranjeevi’s political career right from the moment it started. Jana Senani had many times threatened to take revenge against all such elements who crushed PRP systematically.
In one way, PRP’s sad story was a greater reason for Pawan to float of his own party that he went ahead with a higher resolve to form Jana Sena and bring change in present day, wicked politics. Jana Senani has even brushed aside comments by rivals that his party will meet the same fate as that of PRP.
Both Chiranjeevi and Pawan heavily drew most of their strength from their ‘kapu’ community vote bank which is present predominantly in Godavari districts and partially in other parts of the state. Because of the caste and charisma factors, Congress offered Union Minister post to Chiru to get his services in electioneering in South India. Pawan is saying he doesn’t want a caste tag but still he chose Godavari Dowleswaram ‘kavathu’ for drawing battle lines for 2019 elections. Thanks to his caste base, Pawan could make ‘kavathu’ a big show of strength in Rajahmundry. Comparisons were made, saying Pawan show has outshined a similar show of YCP at the same barrage a few weeks ago.
Small brother often says he will prove a point to all those who are laughing at PRP and who are insulting Chiranjeevi. Whether Pawan succeeds in his mission will be decided by people in 2019 elections.
On his party, Chiru is busy with his second innings in cinema. He is working on the sets of ‘Syeraa Narasimha Reddy’ film due for a Sankranthi festival release in January, 2019. He is back where he belongs.
