Megastar Chiranjeevi was on Thursday unanimously re-elected president of the Praja Rajam at the first plenary of the party in this port city.“My responsibility has grown with today’s re-election. I will work with honesty and sincerity. I will strive to strengthen the party and live up to your expectations,” Chiranjeevi told his adoring partymen.
At the plenary, he launched a counterattack on Rajasekhar and Jeevitha, who alleged that he had been making money selling party tickets at the time of elections and blood through his blood bank.
Chiranjeevi said he had started the blood bank with the support of his fans for the welfare of the needy during crucial times, not for money. Taking an indirect swipe at Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he observed: “None can earn crores by selling blood. It is possible only only mines in the State.” Chiranjeevi also claimed that he was a more mature politician than TDP chief N Chandrubabu Naidu and some of the other political leaders in the state.
“Chandrubabu Naidu says Chiranjeevi doesn’t know politics and that he is an immature politician..If Naidu is so mature, how come he came to power by backstabbing NTR?” the star-turned-politician questioned.
Chiranjeevi further asserted that the PRP would never stoop to the level of selling party tickets to aspiring candidates and said he had started his political career to check political corruption and help develop the State, not to earn money.
The PRP chief said those who were jealous of PRP’s growth were carrying out a misinformation campaign. “But there is a tremendous support to me among the people,” he added. Turning philosophical, he said he had realised that politics was not a bed of roses. “I have faced several allegations in these two years and all these allegations have only strengthened my resolve,” he said.
Referring to the APIIC-Emaar land scam and Bayyaram mining lease, he said spiralling corruption levels must be checked.
Highlighting his party’s commitment to social justice, he said his party had the credit of giving 104 party tickets to backward classes during last year’s Assembly elections. “A good number of tickets for Lok Sabha elections too were given to BCs, SCs and minorities,” he pointed out.
The plenary adopted 15 resolutions including one against the demand for bifurcation of the State.
