CHIRANJEEVI THE FILM STAR PLAYS HIS GAME WILL HE MAKE DENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH POLITICS?

         CHIRANJEEVI  THE FILM  STAR  PLAYS HIS GAME  .....                                                        

    WILL HE  MAKE DENT IN  ANDHRA PRADESH POLITICS?

     Dr    K Prabhakar Rao (Retired)

                     Politics in Andhra Pradesh are complex and are always uncertain. It is one of the largest states in India and has great role to play in national politics too. The State comprising of Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Royala seema provinces has never amalgamated   into one homogeneous state and regional fissures have been playing great part in the elections to the State Assembly and in parliamentary elections too. Regional feelings, caste, religion, dialect and creed have always played their dubious and dirty roles in all elections including the lower panchayat and municipal elections. Entry of Mega star of Telugu films Chiranjeevi has added new dimensions to the already complex political scene in AP state. In fact, Chiranjeevi much delayed announcing of his party for a long period and finally the cat was out of the bag when he announced the formation of party Praja Rajyam at a mammoth meeting at Tirupathi  before the last lections. There was great speculation too .

                    Andhra Pradesh originally was the bastion of Indian National Congress.  The original congress party broke into factions and the one led by Indira Gandhi has finally become victorious and remained on the scene. Those who followed original congress were soon incapacitated and they reconciled and toed the line. The famous and charismatic Film star Nandamoori Taraka Rama Rao known popularly as NTR broke the backbone and continuous rule of Congress in the state after forming Telugu Desam Party and  by exploiting the Telugu sentiments.    . He exploited the sentiments of Telugu people to the hilt after Sri T Anjiah the simpleton ( four anna coolie as claimed by him every time) and un assuming and simple Chief Minister of the State was insulted by Rajiv Gandhi (He had no position at that time) publicly during a visit to Hyderabad. Congress was then sent on leather hunt by NTR for decades and was out of power and on wild goose chase. Telugu Desam party too has seen ups and downs and NTR was replaced in a coup de tat by his son- in- law Chandra babu Naidu when it was clear that Laxmi Parvathi, wife of NTR was gaining importance in the party and emerging as successor to NTR when his health started failing while his end was staring at him.. Chandra babu ruled effectively for next two terms and lost power to congress after an anti establishment vote and due to over confidence after enjoin absolute power. Probably Janmabhoomi (Mother earth) Programme and agitation against reforms in the power sector took the toll in the elections. Dr Rajasekhar Reddy the leader from Royala seema successfully led congress party to victory in previous Assembly elections.

                         Lot of water has flown under the mat during the last few years. Telangana sentiment has again come to the forefront. K Chadrasekahr Rao the Velama leader from Telangana and former leader of Telugu Desam parted ways with Chandra Babu Naidu and formed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to fight for a separate Telangana state.  This has resulted in some losses to Telugu Desam in Telangana region in last elections. However in recent bye-elections held in the state TRS received jolts and lost its hold. Congress and Telugu desam made in –roads into the region and it is no more seen as the bastion of only TRS. The inner bickering in TRS and infighting caused immense damage to TRS and it is struggling to put up bold face every time. Demand for Telangana state has come up again with great agitation and deaths too. Much drama was played. Osmania University became the nerve center as usual and it was almost made a prison camp by police interference and their over enthusiasm to some extent. Many innocent lives were lost. Formation of Telangana appears a mirage at present although Krishna committee is playing flute now and then. People are apprehensive of TRS and chameleon politics of Devendra Goud (Previously from TDP who left it and again joined TDP) and see them as mere opportunists. Devender Gowd has lost his  base  by going out from TDP once. He    rejoined TDP as he knew his game did not work. In the process he lost his hold and No 2 position in TDP. Now he is  putting a brave face and has no alternative.  He can never regain his earlier position.

                   On earlier occasions too, Telangana movement (1968) was backstabbed by its leader Marri Chenna Reddy the former Chief Minister of the State who played the role of Brutus.  In the past elections, speculations were   on the rise on the likely outcome of   elections in the state and that    Government at center too would be influenced by the results of AP elections. But this did not happen. TDP gave a tough fight. Prajarajyam fared miserably getting seventeen seats while he claimed sweeping of the polls.

                     The most important question once on every ones mind was“ Will entry of Chiranjeevi in AP politics makes any difference? Was he going to make to the throne in the present complex scene?”   Chiranjeevi has been a very popular film hero with mass following. Some of his roles have identified him with the downtrodden and poor and exploited. He has not done mythological roles (except one or two) like NTR that have transformed him into godly figure in the state among Telugu people. NTR has also done many social films and was a great successful actor in all types of roles. He was the doyen of Telugu cinema. Chiranjeevi however has not reached the level of NTR fame although he is very popular with large following among youth. Popularity among people is different and transformation of it into votes is not that easy. Chiranjeevi entered films almost three decades ago when NTR was very much at the top and established himself as a popular hero. Very soon, he carved a place for himself in the tough competition in the filmdom.  But in the last elections,     The triangular contest took place with some side kicks such as TRS, Al India  Majlis Ittehad Ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) , Lok Satta of Jaya prakash narayan, the self styled moralist and lone runner ,  Communists ( all types A to Z) and independents scratching around and taking part in the cross country  marathon run.

                    When NTR dethroned Congress from the power decades ago, the contest was between him and the congress party only. The sentiments of Telugus and charisma of NTR and craving for a change did the trick and Congress was thrown out Lock Stock and Barrel on a wild goose chase and on leather hunt. Things were not that simple  during last elections. Telugu desam party has still sufficient strong hold in the State. More over there was no very severe anti congress tempo in the people although unhappiness prevails. The TDP party has the backing of star sons and grandsons of NTR such as Balakrishna, Harikrishna, Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram with their own reckoning. Telugu people are usuall taken over by melodrama and  have also  slavish mentality to dynasties to a great extent. More over Telugu Desam Party has a well knit and established and time proven organization at the smallest level in the state with a dynamic and seasoned leader Chandra babu Naidu at the top. Congress on other front wass trying to rope- in Dr Rajasekhar another popular film hero in his own sense along with his actor director wife Jeevitha. But their following is limited. Balakrishna and Junior NTR have been successful heroes in films and have wide following. In this scenario, it  was unlikely that Chiranjeevi would sweep the polls based on his film popularity alone. He had to organize the party at various levels from the scratch and influence people and this is not that easy.

              The manifesto of Chiranjjevi’s Praja Rajyam party was more socialist oriented with leftist overtones. Probably his roles in certain social films such as Mutta Mastry identifying with poor, illiterate and oppressed made the difference. He cannot project a different image now.  Most of his roles identify him as the leader of oppressed and poor and naturally he would try to exploit such sentiments and image among youth and poor illiterate and urchins. MG Ramachandran (MGR) of Tamilnadu was a charismatic leader of oppressed class in Tamil movies and he successfully exploited the sentiments. People in Tamilnadu consider him as God. However Chiranjeevi in Telugu land has not reached the level of MGR or NTR to sweep the polls brushing aside the time proved and existing strong TDP and    Congress party that would be in power while elections are held in the State. Those in power have some advantage such as gathering of intelligence of opposition parties from police and use of official machinery etc.

                    As usual some leaders from Congress party attacked Chiru by claiming that the Film actor had no experience in politics and that politics is not like singing duets and doing some break dance and fighting alone with scores of goons (Fake). Some members of shouting brigade from Congress even said Chiru was alcoholic while others said his party  was  a family party and had no useful manifesto. Others are no better. These critics forgot that politics  was not reserved for them and every one had right to play his role and take part in it. Character assassination appears to be the aim in AP politics. The utterances of some so called leaders reveal how far the Telugus have fallen in public life. Probably in West too similar things are happening. Fundamentally it is the fallen values in human behavior.  In fact Congress leaders developed perspiration at the size of the crowd at the launch of Chiru’s party. They did not expect that the launch would be of that magnitude. However they displayed brave face stating that people in the state knew the developments that took place in the state under their rule. It turned to be true.

                        The congress went about beating its (empty?) drum of achievements. It had gone to the extent of claiming that the rains in the state were also due to its good rule. What a fallacy indeed? Rains, clouds, light, sunrays, seasons, humidity, dust and summer heat and pregnancies are not the gift of any ruler or political party. It is purely God’s will.  In future they could claim that availability of air for breathing in Andhra Pradesh was also the gift of congress rule with center’s blessing and could be part of Arogya Sri campaign in the state.  Chiru ofcourse remained calm. He however said that his main opposition was congress. He also stated that he would pave way for a Dalit Chief Minister   incase of victory and if the party wanted accordingly. It would be difficult to say now whether the promise would have  been really upheld if he won. Infact this is all hypothetical. It is very difficult to control when a sweet is hanging close to the mouth. It  was also highly improbable that Chiru  could  have a cakewalk in the coming elections. The existing electorate   no doubt got divided. Every one predicted that people now no doubt wanted a change and the Chiru’s manifesto and promise of giving a clean government  could be attractive to youth. But a great sweep  was unlikely. During Congress rule, the prices of all commodities and real estate have sky rocketed and life had become miserable to a common man. As elections  were drawing close, the  ruling government is announcing all types of schemes irrespective of viability most of which could prove disastrous to the economy. The same thing happened. One aft eth eother schemes announced by Raj Sekhar Reddy to attract people became agreat burden and noose around the present governmnet’s neck. At present Mr Rosiah does not know what to do although he puts a brave face. Out of frustration he visits temples and Babas to get blessings.    Rajsekhar Reddy had been naming each and every activity and project in the name of Rajeev Gandhi the slain former Prime Minister as if there was none in AP.. All these actions  could not be converted to votes in reality. Chandra Babu already announced that if he came to power he would change all these silly shows and campaigns and change names too. Sadly the dead men and their names   are becoming scapegoats in the power politics. However votes got divided and Telugu desam did not do really badly although congress won it had to lick  wounds.It was  srape through for them

                  People definitely   wanted a change from Congress. But  Chirus entry spoiled chances for TDP. Niether    Chiru could sweep polls. He cut a sorry figure and yet put a brave face.  .  Chiru  could rope- in Kapu votes and also from a section of crazy youth for his histrionics, Mutta Mastry image, break dances and talent as actor.  But he had no sweeping victory. His party has very few members with who he would play some game. He  made a dent into the vote bank of TDP and congress .

                    After the elections and a short rule by Rajsekhar Reddy  almighty came thumping down on the ruling government of Reddy  and  unfortunately Reddy died in Chopper crash all of a sudden. It was great set back to congress in state and with disappearance of strong Reddy, his  son Jagan tried to seize the throne of AP. Dissidence was always there in congress. But it was suppressed by Reddy. However the clever high command put Rosiah the old veteran slogging horse in saddle to run the show. It preferred a slow moving humpty dumpty duck to a swashbuckling Jagan who had no political experience to run a cumbersome and difficult state. The horse limped, crawled, dragged, neighed itself slowly facing all challenges and Jagan was cut to size. The coterie of Jagan built up the case such that the state would collapse if Jagan was not made the CM. But this did not materialize. He had to swallow the bitter pill  and as a face saver he was made the MP from Kadapa. His mother was made the MLA from Kadapa in the vacant seat of Reddy which is a usual practice in Indian democracy.

                   Of late Jagan has been again trying to  bring up the bogey that his fathers  plans and reforms are being side lined and trying to  build his base in state that he never had . Except the sympathy factor,  he had no locus standing   although he claimed that nearly 150 MLA were with him after his fathers death. If wanted he could have split the part as per his claim. Sadly, Indian politics have become conglamation of rust, rubbish, shit and night soil. All the political leaders are swimming in this pool of conglamation and are not trying to come out . There is a saying that insects that grow in a shit pot can not live outside and also die in it finally. There is also a saying that good insects that live in cleaner environment can not survive in the shit pot conglamation of Indian politics. Example of Jayaprakash Narain the lone MLA from his party can be given. He speaks for cleaner politics,  moral values, efficient conduct and blemish less administration as a wise Gandhian and good  former IAS officer. But see his fate. He is the lone ranger like kemo sabey of American cow boy classics of former years.  With Jagan trying to show defiance by taking up  his consoling ( Odarpu) yatra  in the state, Congress is worried about Rajya Sabha polls in state.  

                          There enters  Prajarajyam Chief Chiranjeevi on the scene. Al these days he had  no role to play. He played double game during Telangana agitation and tried to hold  his  base. Many of his  friends left him.  With 17 followers in assembly he had no role to play. He was of no identity.  But with Congress high command wooing him inti their fold he is falling into the line  having realized that for  next few years he has no chance to come into lime light. His stature in the state in political scene has been proved. It is very sure that he can never win over in the assembly to become CM as Prajarayam chief. At best he may settle for some  good cabinet post by joining congress and then finally merging with it.  He has no way out if he wants to be in lime light. His ego may prevent him from accepting a post while his  MLAs are too eager and itching to  swallow some positions. It is their life’s chance. In next few days things will be clear and Chiru could fall in line with Congress and finally loose his identity too. There is a saying that under a huge Banyan tree no other tree would grow and all will be enveloped.





This has been reposted from an old article