Chiranjeevi to adjust with Tirupati
Thursday, May 21, 2009

PV: Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, has his work cut out for him when he takes charge as the legislator of Tirupati (birthplace of the Praja Rajyam).
The general Praja Rajyam cadre in Tirupati, are essentially contractors and petty businessmen, with little interest in continuing with the party after its poor showing. The more senior party members are bitterly disappointed. Some of them had nursed ambitions to contest in the by-elections from Tirupati, but were denied the opportunity.Chiranjeevi had little choice but to contest from Tirupati. Despite being a dyed-in-the-wool local, the former Congress MLA, was denied entry through the Mahadwaram at the Tirumala temple. Corruption at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was a significant campaign issue. Chiranjeevi's ability to effect change is already being questioned. Powerful officials whose influence has long gone unchecked, may not rush to embrace the new leader's views. It will, however, not take very long to assess whether the Padma Bhushan award winner, adjusts to his new Assembly seat.