Praja Rajyam

The six-day Praja Ankita Yatra of the Praja Rajyam (PR) president, Chiranjeevi, concluded in Rayalaseema at Railwaykodur in Kadapa district on Friday. With this, Chiranjeevi completed his first phase of tour in the state. The PR is likely to gauge its strength as the yatra has finished going around Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions. As several people attended the yatra in Rayalaseema, the Congress and the Telugu Desam (TD) leaders feel that they should not underestimate the PR. The PR activists are confident as Chiranjeevi’s tour of 16 Assembly constituencies and four Lok Sabha constituencies in Rayalaseema was well received. Earlier, all the parties felt that the PR was strong only in north coastal Andhra. Chiranjeevi depended on his movie glamour during his tour in Rayalaseema. In almost all his meetings, the PR chief mentioned about his movie Indra which was produced in the backdrop of Rayalaseema factions. When compared to his tour in north coastal Andhra and Telangana regions, Chiranjeevi was less critical of the government in Rayalaseema. He mentioned about corruption and factionism in the region. However, Chiranjeevi’s speeches failed to enthuse the people. Barring his fans, others said his speeches were lacklustre. Out of 16 Assembly constituencies Chiranjeevi toured in Kadapa and Anantapur districts, Congress MLAs represent 13 constituencies and the TD MLAs represent the remaining three constituencies. The PR chief mainly targeted the Congress in his speeches. During his three-day in Anantapur district, there was good response for Chiranjeevi’s roadshows in the first two days and the response in the last day was lukewarm. In Chiranjeevi’s three-day tour in the Kadapa district, the Congress and the PR activists clashed in Pulivendula, the constituency of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, on the first day. His meeting in Pulivendula became a success. People thronged his meetings on the second and final day of his tour in the Kadapa district. The response to Chiranjeevi’s roadshows in Penukonda, Hindupur and Dharmavaram constituencies, represented by the TD MLAs, in the Anantapur district was good. However, the response to his tour in Singanamala, Gooty and Tadipatri constituencies, represented by the Congress MLAs, in the Anantapur district was lukewarm. In Kadapa district, the response to Chiranjeevi’s tour in Proddutur, Mydukur, Kadapa and Rajampet constituencies was good. Except Badvel and Rayachoti, Chiranjeevi toured all constituencies in the district. -D C