Chiranjeevi fans miffed at being `sidelined

Hyderabad, Sept 26 (PTI) Barely a month into its
existence, Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi's party Praja Rajyam
seems to be bogged down by internal strife with fans alleging
of "getting" a raw deal.

It seems fans of the star are miffed at being
"sidelined" by the politicians who are apparently trying to
hog the limelight in the company of Chiranjeevi.

"We are getting a raw deal in the party," president of
a district Chiranjeevi fans association lamented at the Praja
Rajyam party office here Friday.

Ironically, senior political leaders who jumped into
the actor's support leaving their parent parties too aren't
exactly happy with the state of affairs in Praja Rajyam.

The coterie around Chiranjeevi is reportedly trying to
"dictate terms" even to seasoned politicians, who earlier held
important positions in their parties as well as the
government. Now, some of such leaders are apparently
regretting their decision to join hands with Chiranjeevi.

"It's a different kind of mess out here," one former
minister told P.T.I. "People here seem to have lot of air
about themselves. You don't find such a situation in any
political party," he pointed out.

Also enthusiastic people, who are thronging the Praja
Rajyam office in Jubilee Hills here to catch a glimpse of
Chiranjeevi are literally being necked out by over-zealous
security personnel.

This has become a "routine" affair at the party
office, the people complain.

Even those accompanying party leaders are not being
allowed entry into the Praja Rajyam office causing resentment
not only among the people but also the leaders.

Two days ago, a woman leader of the party who
switched sides from the Telugu Desam had faced an ignominious
experience when one of Chiranjeevi's brothers came to the
party office.

The security personnel reportedly asked the leader, a
former legislator, to "stand up" as "sir" was coming. As she
refused to oblige, Chiranjeevi's brother allegedly pulled up
the security personnel for having failed to "follow the
system."

Knowing this, the woman leader left the party office
in a huff.

Things at the party office apart, happenings in the
districts are also leaving Chiranjeevi's fans seething.

Chiranjeevi's youngest brother and actor Pavan Kalyan
is reportedly encouraging certain groups in every district to
run shows parallel to the former's fans. "This is leaving
everyone confused," a district president of Chiranjeevi fans
pointed out.

Already, the actor's fans and the politicians are at
loggerheads over managing the party affairs in the districts
and the latest developments will only complicate matters
further, it is feared.

As usual, the Chiranjeevi camp seems to have not yet
taken note of the affairs in the party. The simmering
differences will come out in the open once Chiranjeevi begins
his tour of the districts.