Chiranjeevi’s fans who hyped his film releases and spreaheaded his blood donation drives are a sore lot today. They see themselves being sidelined by Chiranjeevi in his new avatar as politician. In every district, Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam is pitting politicians who joined the party recently ahead of die-hard supporters of the star. In Anantapur district, the fans association leader, Mr Surendra Babu, is reportedly unhappy with the growing importance Mr J. Suryanarayana, who recently joined from the Telugu Desam.

In Visakhapatnam, the fief of Mr Raghava Rao, it is the former TD legislator, Mr Rehman, who is calling the shots. In Warangal district, Mr K. Prabhakar has been passed over for Mr E. Pradeep Rao, brother of the TD leader Mr E. Dayakar Rao. In Nalgonda district, the fans association president, Mr B. Venkanna Goud, is now eclipsed by Mr J. Sudhaker Rao who is claiming that he is a close relative of Chiranjeevi’s brother-in-law, Mr Allu Aravind. The Guntur district fans association president, Mr S. Satish Kumar, gave vent to his anger at being sidelined.

Mr Kumar has seen new entrants like K. Rosaiah, son-in-law of the TD leader, Mr U. Venkateshwarlu, and other leaders who crossed-over from the TD. When contacted Mr Kumar said, “I am a die-hard fan of Chiranjeevi. I conducted many blood donation camps for the megastar. But some political leaders who recently pledged their support to PR are trying to dominate me in the district.” “I have faith in the party leadership, that they will give me an appropriate post in the party.”

“The Praja Rajyam leadership is treating fans as second class citizens and giving priority to political leaders who joined the party recently,” said a leader of the Chiranjeevi fans association from Prakasam district.