"Vinara Vinara O Naruda
Brahmam Maata Kalla Kaadura
Praja Rajyame Vachchenu
Koththa Chattale Techchenu
Terapai Bommalu Rajyamelenu
Vinara Vinara O Naruda
Brahmam Maata Kalla Kaadura"

This is a verse from a song on 'Srimad Virat Pothuluri Veerabrahmam Charitra', a film made by Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao in early 80s. The word 'Praja Rajyam' is used as a synonym for 'democracy' here but TV5 channel has made it a big news by linking it with Chiranjeevi's 'Praja Rajyam Party'.

And indeed the expression 'terapai bommalu rajyamelenu..' has turned true ever since NTR and MGR and now Chiranjeevi is an extension to that indeed.

Pothuluri Veerabrahmam, of 16th century, has been regarded as Nostradamus of Andhra Pradesh. So if Pothuluri Veerabrahmam garu said that 'Praja Rajyam' will come, can we expect that it is Chiranjeevi who is becoming CM soon?

Tarakaratna made big comedy by striking his thigh during his political campaigns before 'Yuva Garjana'. He did such filmy acts much to the delight of people those seek entertainment. But Chiranjeevi has been projecting himself as a responsible politician with the terms 'change' and 'Gandhism'. Yet why did he carry himself with 'thigh striking' and 'moustache caressing' in Pulivendula road show like Tarakaratna? Chiranjeevi might have felt that those acts are the birth rights and tradition of Rayalaseema people.

On the other hand he made baseless statements like 'I will make entire state a Pulivendula'. This gives wrong signals to entire population of the state as many perceive Pulivendula as a token of factionism but not development.

With this entire episode, Chiranjeevi has proved that he is no less to Tarakaratna as far as political shows are concerned. What a doom? Mega Star has in to the comparison with Tarakaratna.

Hours after the attack by ruling Congress party activists on the leaders of his Praja Rajyam party, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi took on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the latter’s home district Kadpa.Addressing massive crowds in Pulivendula town Wednesday, Chiranjeevi 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.

Irrespective of the political differences, Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy must have appreciated Praja Rajyam party president Chiranjeevi for one reason.

Chiranjeevi was all praise for Pulivendula, the native constituency of YSR, in Kadapa district. The PRP president, who toured Pulivendula as part of his road shows, was amazed to witness tremendous development in the constituency and the benefits being accrued to the people from the government.

"I have seen a lot of development in Pulivendula. How nice it could have been, if such development is witnessed all over the State," he wondered.

By the way, the Congress leaders were wondering whether Chiranjeevi was praising YSR or criticising him for focussing only on Pulivendula and ignoring the rest of the State. Well, that is politics!

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao's grandson and popular Telugu actor Junior NTR is all set to campaign for the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

After much dillydallying amid speculations of a rift in NTR family, Junior NTR agreed to campaign for the party with road shows from January.

TDP hopes that the 25-year-old actor, who resembles his grandfather and enjoys a huge fan following, will help the party counter superstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, who recently floated the Praja Rajyam party.

The move comes at a time when the Congress party is planning to unleash several actors including Nagarjuna, superstar of yesteryears Krishna and his young actor son Mahesh Babu.

Though NTR's actor sons and grandsons have already thrown their weight behind TDP, Junior NTR was maintaining a distance. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was desperate to garner his support as he is more popular than other members of the NTR family.

Junior NTR along with his father N. Harikrishna and uncle N. Balakrishna met Naidu on few occasions in the past but skipped the 'Yuvagrajna' public meeting held at Guntur Nov 5, triggering speculations of a rift in the family.

Junior NTR wanted an assembly ticket for his film producer friend Vallabhaneni Vamsimohan from Gannavaram constituency but his father and party politburo member Harikrishna and Kalyanram demanded that the party field former legislator Dasari Balavardhan Rao from the constituency.

There were reports that Junior NTR was also unhappy over the treatment meted out to his mother by the NTR family.

Naidu, who was worried over reports that NTR's daughter and central minister D. Purandareswari and others were trying to convince Junior NTR to campaign for the Congress, began frantic efforts to woo him.

The TDP president, during a meeting with Junior NTR on Wednesday, reportedly promised to give ticket to his friend and convinced him to campaign for TDP.

TDP sources said the popular actor agreed to conduct road shows on the condition that he would not criticise the rival parties and the actors campaigning for them.

"As his film career is at its peak, he doesn't want controversies to affect his career," said a TDP leader, requesting anonymity.

The actor will only appeal to people to support the party founded by his grandfather. As his uncle Balakrishna, also a popular actor, is launching a 'yatra' next month, Naidu wanted him to conduct road shows in January.

NTR created record of sorts by coming to power within nine months after forming TDP in 1982.

Naidu had led a revolt against his father-in-law NTR to become the Chief Minister in August 1995 after Lakshmi Parvati, whom NTR married just before the 1994 polls, was emerging as a power centre. NTR died of cardiac arrest five months later.

Naidu, who lost power to the Congress in 2004, is banking heavily on NTR charisma to regain power.

Elections to the State Assembly are scheduled in March-April next year.

Senior leader Ch V Harirama Jogaiah went to Shiv Shankar's residence and accompanied him to the PRP office this morning. Later, Chiranjeevi invited the former Union minister to join PRP. Meanwhile, another Congress leader P Upendra is also expected to join the PRP in a couple of days. Talking to TOI over phone from Vijayawada, Updendra confirmed receiving an invitation from Chiranjeevi to join PRP. He said he would likely to announce the date of his joining PRP on Monday.

Shiv Shankar, who held key positions during the days of India Gandhi, has been unhappy with the present Congress leadership both at the Centre and state ever since he was denied the party ticket in the 2004 elections. Admitting the backward leader from the Munnuru Kapu community from Telangana into the party, Chiranjeevi said the vast experience of Shiv Shankar would help the fledgling Prajarajyam Party greatly. The veteran Congress leader's entry would boost the profile of PRP, Chiranjeevi hoped.

Shiv Shankar criticised AICC president Sonia Gandhi for `throwing' to the winds the values enunciated by Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. "She has no morals, both ethical and political. Money spinning has become the principal activity of the Congress," he said.

Realising that the Congress government will try to gain the maximum political mileage from the Nandi awards function in the city on Sunday, the Prajarajyam Party (PRP) has decided to play spoilsport. Indications are that PRP leader Chiranjeevi's brother Nagendra Babu will show up at the function although the NTR clan will do nothing to spoil the party of the Congress which is keen to project hero Mahesh Babu as it's big supporter.

Chiranjeevi-starrer `Stalin' bagged the special jury award for the year 2006 and though the megastar himself will not attend the function to receive the award, his brother Nagendra Babu will turn up as he was the producer of the movie. "I am in Vizag now and I hope to return to be present at the awards ceremony," Nagendra Babu told STOI. Allu Aravind, his son Allu Arjun and Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan Tej will skip the function. Chiranjeevi will begin his tour of Rayalaseema from Sunday.

The Nandi awards show, being organised for the first time at the Lal Bahadur stadium, promises to be a show of Krishna and his son Mahesh Babu, and Nagarjuna - all supporting the Congress. However, with no one expected to turn up from the Nandamuri clan, the awards function hardly promises to have all the glitter that is usually associated with filmi functions. No one from the Nandamuri family - Balakrishna, NTR Jr or Kalyan Ram are recipients of any award for the year 2005 and 2006.

The Praja Rajyam (PR) founder, Mr Chiranjeevi, who had completed his Praja Ankita Yatra in north coastal Andhra and Telangana regions, will tour Rayalaseema from Sunday. He will begin his Yatra from Gorantla constituency in Anantapur district. Mr Chiranjeevi will tour Gorantla, Hindupur and Penukonda Assembly constituencies, strongholds of the Telugu Desam (TD) on the first day. The PR founder will tour Anantapur district for three days, from November 16 to November 18, and his Yatra will pass through those constituencies, which are strongholds of the Congress and the TD.

The district PR in-charge, Mr Bhuma Nagireddy, stayed in Anantapur for the last four days and made arrangements for Chiranjeevi’s tour. The PR leaders and activists hoisted party flags, flexi boards and banners in the places in which Mr Chiranjeevi will tour. As Mr Chiranjeevi is coming for the first time to Anantapur district, the PR made elaborate arrangements for his tour in Gorantla, Hindupur and Penukonda constituencies. The district PR leaders explained to Mr Chiranjeevi the various problems in the district to enable him to mention them in his speeches. In the wake of the TD Mee Kosam Yatra and the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s meet, the PR leaders are expressing confidence that Chiranjeevi’s meetings would evoke tremendous response in the district.