It appears that Megastar Chiranjeevi has become a strict follower of the saying by Lord Buddha –'Silence is Golden'. After having come into politics, he is being targeted for every small reason and those who used to die to be on his side on the screen or even took pride to be seen with him outside are now shamelessly hitting out at him without a cause.

However, all these things don't seem to matter much as Chiru has been silent over all the mud slinging and is going on doing his work. It was the same mantra that he had adopted in the film career that took him to envious heights. His idea of remaining calm over such things and just focus on the task on the hand has got him a lot of success.

Now, he is following the same principle in politics and there are many of his supporters who say that it is this stand that will ensure that he will also become the Chief Minister and will get him great success in this dangerous and murky field. Let us wait and see how true all this turns out to be.

The entry of Chiranjeevi fans and party workers into the Praja Rajyam headquarters here is being restricted through a ticket system. It is similar to the ticket system in cinema theatres, which is fitting, but in this case, some don’t get to see the hero at all. This has evoked much resentment. Be it a second-rung leader of the Praja Rajyam or a die-hard Chiranjeevi fan from a far off village, everyone is allotted a ticket according to his or her standing.

To enable the ticket system to function smoothly, the party leadership has also set up a help counter near the main gate. There are four kinds of tickets. One allows a person to enter the premises but denies him entry into the party office. The second kind of ticket is given to those who have business with the Praja Rajyam spokespersons. Those who get the third category of ticket can go to the conference hall and wait there, till Chiranjeevi comes down to meet them.

And there is also the “VIP” ticket which is given to those who can directly walk into the megastar’s chamber and interact with him. The ticket system has disappointed many party workers and fans who come from far away to meet the star and have to return without a darshan. Some MPTCs who came from Mahabubnagar district to meet Chiranjeevi on Wednesday did not get the right tickets, so to say. So they went back disgruntled. Similarly, the party leader, Ms P. Karuna, daughter of Mallu Swarajyam, was denied entry by the party managers on Wednesday. The Praja Rajyam leader, Ms B. Shobha Nagi Reddy, said she was not aware of these restrictions On Thursday, the party managers did not allow any visitors since a core committee meeting was taking place in the office.

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Friday launched an attack on previous governments for not considering the interests of farmers while establishing Special Economic Zones.

Expressing concern over the plight of farmers displaced by the Pharma SEZ here, he said, “While SEZs are essential as they spawn industrial development, they cannot be set up by depriving poor farmers of their land.” As many as 56 out of the 250 SEZs in the country were in Andhra Pradesh, and it was regrettable that they were carved out of fertile lands owned by poor farmers. “It is not real development when it is achieved at the cost of hungry stomachs.”

Mr. Chiranjeevi spent over three hours in the area where the government had acquired about 1,000 acres in Polepalli, Mudireddipalle and Gundlagadda Thanda in Jadcherla mandal for the Pharma SEZ in 2001-02. Two companies are putting up their facility and only 153 acres is in use. He also visited the houses of three displaced families.

Addressing an impressive gathering from atop a vehicle under blazing sun, the actor-turned-politician drew applause when he said that farmers had become labourers after acquisition of their land. He said farmers cherished the small piece of land that they could call their own and were so sentimental that elders would be buried in a corner of the holding.

Asserting that his party would stand by the displaced farmers led by the Polepalli SEZ Vythireka Samiti (Struggle Committee Against Polepalli SEZ), he demanded that the government allocate alternative land and houses to them, apart from paying an additional sum of money in tune with the rising land prices. Farmers who lost their lands were not reaping the full benefit considering that allocation of SEZs invariably led to a real estate boom.

He said it was a pity that the governments were overlooking the interests of the farmers. The Hindu

Barely one month into its existence, Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi's party Praja Rajyam seems to be bogged down by internal strife.

"Fans" of the star are miffed at being "sidelined" by the politicians who are trying to hog the limelight in the company of Chiranjeevi.

"We are getting a raw deal in the party," president of a district Chiranjeevi fans association lamented at the Praja Rajyam Party office on Friday.

Ironically, senior political leaders who jumped into the actor's outfit leaving their parent parties too aren't exactly happy with the state of affairs in Praja Rajyam.

The coterie around Chiranjeevi is reportedly trying to "dictate terms" even to seasoned politicians, who earlier held important positions in their parties as well as the government. Now, some of such leaders are apparently regretting their decision to join hands with Chiranjeevi.

"It's a different kind of mess out here," one former minister said. "People here seem to have lot of airs about themselves. You don't find such a situation in any political party," he pointed out.

Worse, enthusiastic people who are thronging the Praja Rajyam office in Jubilee Hills here to catch a glimpse of Chiranjeevi are literally being necked out by over-zealous security personnel.

This has become a "routine" affair at the party office, the people complain.

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi got a taste of public wrath in his role as politician for the first time. The actor-turned-politician met farmers who will be displaced due to the Special Economic Zone at Polepally in Mahbubnagar district on Friday.

They turned angry when he was not able to explain how the PR could mitigate their sufferings if they voted the party to power. The PR chief listened to farmers and tried to understand their problems during a whirlwind tour to villages and thandas adjacent to Polepally.

He assured the farmers that he will lessen their hardships as soon as the PR came to power, but did not elaborate on the same. "Unlike other politicians, I have not come here just for political mileage. I assure you that when the Praja Rajyam comes to power, we will take necessary steps to uplift you," he told villagers.

Chiranjeevi criticised the state government for acquiring lands from the poor under the guise of SEZs. After he completed his visit and was about to return to Hyderabad, some farmers staged a dharna seeking a definite assurance of Rs 10 lakh as compensation per acre.

Many heroines who ran around trees and sang lovey-dovey duets with Chiranjeevi in reel life are spurning him in the political arena. On screen, their eyelashes fluttered with adoration on seeing the hero, but now many of them talk as if they can’t bear the sight of him. Roja, the president of Telugu Mahila, the women’s wing of the Telugu Desam, was Chiranjeevi’s heroine in many films. Some of the films, including Mutha Mestri, were blockbusters.

But now Roja has no good words for her former hero. In fact, she lashes out at him every day. "His role is nil when it comes to helping the needy in times of natural disasters in the state," says Roja. Vijayashanti, who has acted in the most number of films with Chiranjeevi and was considered to be the heroine who most suited him, is also a bitter critic of the star.

Both of them are in the opposite poles of the political spectrum and fans are sad to see them snipe at each other. But there are chances of the lucky pair getting together again. Vijayashanti is planning to merge her political outfit with the Telangana Rastra Samiti. And if the TRS joins hands with the Praja Rajyam, then fans will see Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti together in a campaign van.

Popular heroine Nagma, who acted with Chiranjeevi in many films, is now in the Congress. Chances are that she will be campaigning against Chiranjeevi. Similarly, Jaya Sudha, who donned some good roles with Chiranjeevi is all set to join the Congress to spearhead the attack against her screen hero. However, the megastar may find some relief in another former heroine Jaya Prada, whose Samajwadi Party is trying for an alliance with Praja Rajyam.

But if the SP sticks on to its alliance with the Congress and Chiranveevi goes against the latter, then even Jayaprada may have to lash out at the actor. The only exception would be actress Suhasini who is likely to join Praja Rajyam.

The Praja Rajyam president, Chiranjeevi, has adopted the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu’s tactic of firing salvos at political rivals using selected leaders. And the first target of this attack by Chiranjeevi’s party was none other than the TD supremo himself. The former TD leader, Ms Shobha Nagi Reddy, who joined the Praja Rajyam on Monday lashed out at Mr Naidu for using film actor Roja to attack the megastar-turned-politician.

It may be recalled here that Roja, the TD Mahila Wing leader and former heroine of Chiranjeevi, criticised him saying that he had entered politics solely to gain power and was motivated by self-interest. She had said that Chiranjeevi had never helped anyone in the film industry while he was the superstar.

Retorting sharply to Roja’s comments on Chiranjeevi, Ms Shobha Nagi Reddy said that the TD chief was conducting a competition among his party functionaries on who would criticise rivals the best. "He is using Assembly tickets as bait and this is nothing but political bankruptcy," she added. This was the first time that a leader other than the party spokesperson had held a press conference at the PR headquarters. On the other hand, Chiranjeevi refused to react to the critical comments made by the Congress and the TD on his Siricilla tour by saying that he would not respond to personal attacks.

"As I was moved by the hardships of the weavers in Siricilla during my recent visit, I questioned the lackadaisical attitude of the government and local MLA towards the plight of the weavers," he said. He has also set up a committee under the chairmanship of Mr K.S.R. Murthy to study the problems of the weavers. The megastar said he had not yet decided when to launch his state-wide tour. "I was thinking of beginning my yatra in the first week of October," he said. "But, some of our party leaders are suggesting that I take it up after the Dasara festival."

The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has spoiled Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi’s high-profile tour even before it has been launched. Mr Naidu has decided to launch the second phase of his Mee Kosam Yatra on Gandhi Jayanti, when Chiranjeevi was also planning to set out on his tour. Though the Praja Rajyam leadership had asked Chiranjeevi fans associations to prepare for the tour, it has not bothered to officially announce the schedule so far.

Seizing upon this lapse, Mr Naidu decided to commence the second round of Mee Kosam Yatra on October 2. “Now, the Praja Rajyam tour launch would not get much media coverage, as we are also launching our campaign on the same day,” said a senior TD leader. Mr Naidu also outsmarted Chiranjeevi by announcing that fight against corruption would be his theme for the second round of Mee Kosam.

This too would steal the wind from Chiranjeevi’s sails since he had also been planning to lash out at corruption during his tour. Through these moves, Mr Naidu has scored over the megastar, whose party is yet to learn the ropes of the political game. The TD chief would start his tour from Manchiryal in Adilabad district, where the Yellampally project has been taken up. He would be raising the corruption allegation relating to the project again to give impetus to his tour.

He will also spend time in tribal areas, where several people have died reportedly because of the lack of proper medical facilities. “Mr Naidu would spend a night in a remote village in the Adilabad district to know the conditions there first hand.” said Mr Ravula Chandrasekar Reddy, senior leader.

Praja Rajyam leader Chiranjeevi was at a loss for words when tragic tales of weavers unfolded before him during his surprise visit to the textile town of Sircilla on Saturday. The visit is the first obvious political act of the actor after launching his party a few weeks ago. It was also a painful initiation into the complex problems of the masses which he would have to grapple with in the coming weeks.

Chiranjeevi visited the houses of four weavers who committed suicide owing to debts. He appeared shaken and perturbed after wailing family members of G. Rajamouli, a deceased weaver, narrated the circumstances that led to his suicide. “Governments lacked resolve to solve your problems and your elected representatives failed you,” said Chiranjeevi.

Though Sircilla denotes Siri (wealth), you have been deprived of wealth. The Praja Rajyam will become your voice.” He promised to field a local BC candidate.

Chiranjeevi’s visit followed his clandestine style, despite the Sircilla visit being a mass contact programme. Seasoned politicians, Mr Ch. Hariramajogaiah, K. Vidyadhara Rao and Bhuma Nagi Reddy are reportedly objecting to taking up of mass contact programmes in a filmy manner.

Megastar Chiranjeevi is burning the midnight oil to pore over books on political science, the Indian Constitution and public administration to prepare for his new role as a politician. The actor, who has enacted many a character in reel life, may never have taken such pains for any portrayal. But then this is the meatiest role he has ever got.

According to aides, the Praja Rajyam chief is also reading up on all the burning issues of the state, including categorisation of scheduled castes, Naxalism, farmers’ suicides and price rise to keep abreast of all major developments. Mr Chiranjeevi, who is on a statewide tour, apparently wants to deliver speeches with as much substance as style, something which his scriptwriters often forget to do in films.

"He is thoroughly examining every problem being faced by the common man," said an aide. "He is not just analysing the problem, but is also taking advice from experts to find solutions." To formulate pro-poor policies for his party, the actor is also going through the election manifestos of different political parties.

"He is committed to the uplift of the downtrodden," said Ms Shobha Nagi Reddy, former Telugu Desam leader who joined the Praja Rajyam. "He is very keen on understanding the travails of the poor." Chiranjeevi struck a chord with the people during the Tirupati launch of his party by speaking about his lower middle-class upbringing. But to carry forward the momentum, he has to strike a chord in terms of his approach to issues as well. This means some rote learning to digest key facts and figures. And nobody needs to teach the actor how to weave them into his dialogues to give it that solid punch.