PR might take up prohibition

By Our Special

Correspondent

Hyderabad

Nov. 25: Chiranjeevi is likely to take up prohibition. The Praja Rajyam has some aces up its sleeves for the 2009 elections and plans to reveal them just before elections.

Sources in the party said it has identified several developmental and welfare programmes, but a few core promises will be highlighted in the run-up to the elections.

The main focus will be on "change for better" and "give us a chance," with youth as the main target. Among the four core issues is anti-liquor campaign to woo women voters in rural areas.

"To start with we will promise weeding out belt shops, reduction in wine shops and finally prohibition," a close confidant of Chiranjeevi told this newspaper.

"As per our plan, Chiranjeevi, will unveil the party election manifesto, especially the core promises. It is obvious the credit should go to the person who founded the party," he added.

When it was pointed out that prohibition had failed in the past, the Praja Rajyam leader said the party would start weeding out belt shops and launch a concerted campaign against consumption of liquor. "It’s a big social menace and has destroyed families and lives. Women in villages are against consumption liquor. We will be cautious in achieving our goal," he said. Unlike Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s penchant for mega irrigation projects, Chiranjeevi prefers utilisation of lakes in every village for irrigation and drinking water purposes.

Continuing free power to farmers, free houses to poor, remunerative prices to farm produce, enforcement of law and order among others, availability of essential commodities at affordable prices among others will complete the party’s poll promises. Sources said the actor has advised party leaders not to get perturbed over the ruling and other opposition parties’ provocative statements that the Prajarajyam had failed to announce its programmes and policies. "We will announce it at an appropriate time," he reportedly told them. It is learnt that the party leaders were scanning for new schemes that would attract voters, but finding it difficult to match since YSR government has covered almost all the attractive schemes for all sections of people including Rs 2 a kg rice, house to homeless, pensions to arogyasri. "Since everyone is promising everything free or at concessional rate, our focus will be on change for better and give us a chance. Unlike others, our slate is clean," he explained.