Monday, March 23, 2009

Election Tamasha: Stampede fear in PR office

Whenever Chiranjeevi’s new flicks hit theatres, proprietors of cinema halls used to take utmost security measures fearing stampede at the ticket counters.

Now, a similar situation is prevailing at Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam headquarters as the selection of PR candidates for the upcoming polls is coming to an end.

This has prompted the Praja Rajyam authorities to tighten security at the their central offices.

Allotment of Assembly tickets has kept the security staff of the PR central offices on their toes.

The swanky building at Jubilee Hills, which houses Geeta Arts office, a film production house of Mr Allu Aravind, brother-in-law of Chiranjeevi, has turned into a fortress.

The glass walls of the building have been covered with plywood boards to minimise damage in case disgruntled aspirants turn violent. Mr Aravind is playing a key role in the selection process of the PR candidates.

The fledgling party has already tasted the wrath of party leaders who attacked PR offices in various districts when the state committee was announced.

Interestingly, the PR leadership is conducting “counselling classes” for aspirants who are vying for the same seat, so as to pacify the discontent among them.

Along with Mr Aravind and Mr Devender Goud, Chiranjeevi is taking part in these meetings to justify the reasons for chosing a particular candidate.

Chiranjeevi has warned ticket aspirants in his party not to resort to dissidence if they are denied tickets.

He said any dissident activity would be dealt with firmly.

The Praja Rajyam is now giving final touches to the list of candidates. The party leadership is planning to release the first list with 70 candidates either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“We are expecting a large number of people to migrate from the Grand Alliance after the Telugu Desam releases its first list. So, we are not finalising candidates in segments where Mahakutami members are at loggerheads,” said a close aide of Chiranjeevi.

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