The mammoth meeting organised by Megastar Chiranjeevi for the launch of "Praja Rajyam" taught mediapersons many lessons, to put it mildly. Hundreds of enthusiastic journalists who reached Tirupati to cover the meeting barely escaped being smothered under a stampede.

Though the Chiranjeevi camp had assured the journalists that the meeting would be organised efficiently (‘corporate planning’ was what they said) and that they would be provided with hitech facilities, none of this happened. Instead, there was absolute chaos at the meeting ground. Hysteric fans scrambled up huge cutouts of the star which started swaying wildly, terrifying the wits out of those standing below.

Not many reporters would want to be maimed or killed by a cutout even if it is in the line of duty. Chiranjeevi’s brother K. Naga Babu pleaded to the fans with folded hands to come down, but they would not listen to him. Then Allu Aravind threatened to unleash the police on them and also thrashed a few to bring some order.

The surging crowds broke all the barricades and many journalists had to crawl under the dais to escape the mad rush. Others got stuck behind the dais and could not get to see Chiranjeevi while he was speaking. Police did not bother to manage the crowds, miffed at the arrogant attitude of the volunteers deployed by the Chiranjeevi camp.

The woes of the mediamen did not end even after the meeting. They had to trot around five km to find an Internet centre to send their reports. There was no sign of the hitech facilities promised by Chiranjeevi. Meanwhile the special train arranged for the media left Tirupati, abandoning more than 35 journalists.

The exhausted reporters finally reached the hotels at around 11.30 pm only to be told that they should check out immediately. Those who tried to contact the organisers of the Chiranjeevi mela only got the cryptic answer that their mobiles were switched off. This forced many journalists to rush to bus stands to catch the next available bus to their hometowns. Some were stranded in Tirupati and had to wait till the next day to reach their offices.

Interestingly, when the mediapersons confronted Chiranjeevi the next day, he made light of the happenings and quipped: "Such small things happen in big meetings." That was one punch dialogue which earned him no applause.

After the mega hit of the Praja Rajyam party launch here, the district party wing has begun a drive on membership enrollment with special focus on youth and women.

A party leader said they would spare no efforts in attracting youngsters to the party since Chiranjeevi insisted at the Avilala public meeting that the youth form the fulcrum of his party. Though the din associated with the launch of the party dissipated in the temple town, the star's fans continued to go ga-ga over the super success of the mega show.

"Annaiah would definitely make his mark on the political front too. Till yesterday we were his die-hard fans, but henceforth we will be the disciplined soldiers of the Praja Rajyam party," Ashok Yadav from Vizianagaram told 'TOI'. A housewife P Nagabhushana from Tirupati said though the maiden speech of the mega star was good, Chiru was not specific as to what he would do for the welfare of the people. "He mentioned about the abnormal hike in the prices of essential commodities, but he did not specify the steps to contain the price spiral," she opined.

Retired librarian P Sham said the turnout was massive because every one was eager to have a glimpse of the star. "But Chiranjeevi's speech lacked substance, vigour and punch which one associated with NT Rama Rao," he said.

While Chiru said his focus would be on farmers' welfare, his address cut little with the ryots. P Krishnaiah, a farmer from Avilala village, said: "There was nothing in his speech. He just spoke like any other political entrant."

Suhasini Maniratnam, who ticked the memory line of the Telugu audiences with her presence in Bommarillu - a TV game show in the recent weeks, is going to head the women wing of Megastar Chiranjeevi's ready-for-launch party in August, sources said. At a time, when Congress party's women wing is additionally powered with Jeevita Rajasekhar, considered a good speaker, its rival TDP has Roja, with a peculiar tinge of audacity in her voice. We have to wait and see to what extent Suhasini could compete with the feminine political rhetoric.