CM welcomes Chiranjeevi into politics, oppn silent

If rumour mills are to be believed, megastar Chiranjeevi is scripting a grand entry into politics.
Although Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati chose to be dismissive ("Film actors don't do social service. They can only sing and dance.”) there is a precedent for Chiru – as the actor is affectionately known to his millions of fans.

Andhra Pradesh did see N T Rama Rao storm to power in the 1980s, only nine months after forming the Telugu Desam Party. Not surprisingly, the state Congress is playing it safe.
"I welcome Chiranjeevi with open arms,” said Chief Minister Y S R Reddy.

The opposition TDP has chosen to maintain a stoic silence – with party leaders and workers instructed against commenting on the issue.

Chiranjeevi belongs to the Kapu community, comprising 19 per cent of voters in the state.
If the megastar does float a party, a likely regrouping of the Kapu community will hurt the Congress and the TDP in coastal Andhra.

In a pre-emptive strike at the Chiranjeevi factor, the state government has constituted a committee to fulfill a long pending demand of the Kapu's - to include them under the Backward classes category.

The actor's imminent entry into politics has already ruffled feathers in both the TDP and the Congress. After all, NTR's success cannot easily be forgotten and Chiru's name is also synonymous with social service.

Backward caste and Kapu leaders, on their part, are waiting for the mist to clear so that they can ride on the winning horse for 2009 state polls.

Courtesy:ibnlive.com
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