The newest entry to politics from the glitzy Indian movie world Mr Chrianjeevi fondly referred as “Mega Star” by Andhraites has proved his mettle in his maiden election. I would say he is not a spent force but rather a force to be reckoned in future elections in the state of Andhra Pradesh. While some feel that his party Praja Rajyam’s performance has not been to the expectation, they fail to recognize that Chiranjeevi can indeed be seen as the most impressive performer in Indian politics today. Praja Rajyan (Peoples Rule) launched just six months back in August 2008 has secured more than 16% of the states vote share.
While Mr Rajinikanth – referred as Super Star and “King of Indian Cinema” has been keeping his political aspirations (rather his fan’s I should say) alive for more than a decade but has not taken the plunge yet, Mr Chiranjeevi’s entry was swift with commitment. Chiranjeevi at the age of 54 still had a lucrative career in the film industry. Mr Rajinikanth might have missed the bus (much because of ill advices from his long time advisor -politician Mr Cho). But Chiranjeevi seem to have taken an “express train” into politics. (Rail Engine being his election symbol)
Commenting on the election results Chiranjeevi said
“It was only a first step in the grand fight. ‘I appeal to party workers to take it as positive. Think the glass is half full and not half empty”
Mr. Chiranjeevi informed to reporters that his party will analyze the results and take corrective steps to strengthen the party.
Considering a six month old party having fought with 150 years old Congress party and the 26 years old Telugu Desam party, Chiranjeevi and his parties achievements were indeed impressive. As Chiranjeevi has been elected to the state assembly from the holy city of Tirupati constituency, his followers believe he will receive the divine sight of lord Balaji for much bigger success.
During the election Chiranjeevi vouched that his party would ensure social justice to the people of Andhra Pradesh and nominated more than 100 candidates from the states backward communities.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu recently accredited Chiranjeevi’s entry into politics as a factor for his party’s debacle in the recent election. Mr. Naidu also refused to accept the verdict as a positive vote for the Congress party saying it retained power by division of votes. He said:
“It was clear from the voting trend in assembly elections that people wanted TDP to come to power,”
While addressing the state-level convocation of his party Naidu reminded that though the Congress had come to power in the state again, its vote percentage was only 36.8. He further said:
“This is the first time in the history of Andhra Pradesh that a party has come to power with such a meagre share of votes,”
“In many constituencies, the TDP candidates lost the polls with a slender margin, mainly because of the presence of the PRP. Had there not been a split in the anti-establishment vote, we would have won comfortably,”
The opposition parties together polled 63.2 percent of votes and the difference in percentage of votes between the Congress and TDP Alliance was only 1.8 percent. Mr. Nadu declared that the TDP would carry on its fight on the platform of people’s issues and asked the party cadres to reinforce the party at the grassroots level.
Post poll scrutiny exhibit that TDP and PRP ruined each by vying for votes from the same segment of socially deprived and backward communities instead of focussing on the traditional congress vote bank also.
In the future, if TDP and PRP focus wisely and work towards the development of the state and the Telugus, they have an opportunity to push the Congress party out of the mainstream politics in the state of Andhra Pradesh much like how DMK and ADMK parties in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu have reigned dominance over the Congress party. In my views, the outcome of the past elections in Andhra Pradesh is the beginning – to the end of Congress party in that state.
Tags: Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, Chiranjeevi, Congress party, India, Praja Rajyam, PRP, TDP, Telugu Desam
3 Comments
This article is very good on analysis and explained about how
congress retained it’s power with mere less than 40%
However the comparison of congress in Telugunadu with Tamilnadu
grossly mistake. Tamilians consider congress as North party but
Telugus never think like that and by supporting division of Telugus
for political reasons – TDP is losing it’s ground in different parts of
Telugunadu. Congress will survive for ever in Telugu politics
Chirajeevi great person but it is very hard for him to depend on hard
core politicians to win the state without showing difference of his own.
Raghu, Thanks for your comment.
Tamil people rejected congress not that it was a north Indian party; they did just because congress didn’t care about the welfare of Tamil People.
20 years before congress was a dominant force in Uttarpradesh. But after the emergence of regional parties Samjawadi (Mulayam Singh Yadhav party) and Bagujan Samajwadi (Mayawati / Kanshiram party) Congress was pushed to fourth position.
Similary 18 years before in the state of Maharashtra, Congress was number one and formed government on its own strength. But after the raise of Shiva Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) congress lost its ground.
Congress losing its support due to lack of addressing the people needs. In a true sense it is no longer a Indian party. Most of their regional leaders are puppets.
Hence PRP and TDP will soon dominate in Andhara politics.
“While Mr Rajinikanth – referred as “King of Indian Cinema””
I humbly feel this is an undue mockery of Indian tastes and fans! I think we are gladly out of the King eras now! Even if we can attribute the mantle to anyone, the record on sales or power does not lie with Rajini..He is probably the one with the most sycophants…And even that is not an enviable title to lay claim to, when you study the motives behind it!