Chiru wants ‘prodigal’ sons

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, May 10: The Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi on Sunday called upon his fans, who had switched their loyalties to other parties because they were denied tickets to contest the elections, to rejoin him in the interests of the party.

Chiranjeevi described the fans as “prodigal sons”. The PR chief promised them that he would give them priority in the forthcoming local body elections.
He further said the PR would last a 100 years and added that by joining hands with the megastar in serving the people, the fans can make PR a party oriented towards the poor.
As part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen the PR from the grassroot level, Mr Chiranjeevi held a meeting exclusively with his fans on Sunday in Hyderabad. During the meeting he told them he was heartbroken by his long-time fans parting ways with him just because they were denied tickets.
“Those who adored me for 30 years switched their loyalties because of denial of tickets. They might have done it in a fit of rage. So, I am not angry with them,” the PR chief said.
During the meeting, Chiranjeevi talked a lot to explain why he was not abe to give more tickets to his fans. In order to field competent candidates to take on the TD and Congress contestants who were financially sound, the PR could not do justice to his ardent fans. The party had allotted tickets to only three fans.
He showered praises on his fans for taking up social service activities on behalf of him, even before he entered politics. He further said none but the fans were close to him.