Chiru hunt for 'safe' berth!

Hunt for a safe seat for Chiru
Suresh Krishnamoorthy,
HYDERABAD:

As the launch of film actor Chiranjeevi's political party draws closer, his managers are busy zeroing on a *safe constituency' for him to make a *grand entry' into the portals of the Assembly in 2009.

Among options being actively considered are Palacole in West Godavari district, where his father-in-law and character actor, late Allu Ramalingaiah is domicile. It as also on the scanner because of the sizeable *kapu' population and the people's response for the meeting addressed by the star's brother, K. Nagendra Babu.

In fact, Mr. Chiranjeevi's inner circle is mulling the option of doing an *NTR' by contesting from one seat from each of the three regions to drive home the point that his popularity spans the entire State. In their reckoning are one costituency either in Nizamabad or Karimnagar district in Telangana, and Tirupati Assembly segment or some other in Anantapur district.

Telugu Mahila president Roja, who co-starred the actor in the box office hit, *Mutha Maistry', has declared that she was prepared to contest against the megastar. Ms. Roja had unsuccessfully contested from Nagari in Chittoor district on a TDP ticket in the 2004 Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, party work too has picked up speed and it is learnt that Mr. Chiranjeevi is holding meetings every night with the core planners including Mr. Nagendra Babu, brother-in-law Allu Aravind and advisors Dr. P. Mitra and Dr. A.P. Vittal and T.V. Rao. However, when contacted, Dr. Mitra said none in the party was authorised to speak anything on policy issues and even about politics.

Mr. Aravind's meeting on Wednesday with Chief Electoral Officer I.V. Subba Rao ended on a not-so-positive note. While party activists are on a State-wide drive to motivate people on voter enrolment between July 7 and 18, the Election Commission's deadline ends on July 14.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mitra is flying off to the UK on *urgent personal work'. Initially, he was said to be addressing a meeting of Telugu people from the North Eastern States of America including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, at The Royal Albert's Palace in New Jersey. However, it is not known if Dr. Mitra will participate through video-conference from London or Hyderabad.

(eom)