Chiranjeevi all set to take new role

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi will formally launch his political party at a public meeting in this temple town on Tuesday, which will have all the ingredients of a blockbuster with party's name, flag still kept under wraps.

The 53-year-old actor, who announced his plans to take a plunge in politics at a press conference in Hyderabad last week, will reveal his party's name and programmes at the 'mega show' here.

Chiranjeevi, accompanied by his family members, would be reaching Tirumala onMonday night and offer worship at the hill shrine on Tuesday morning before addressing his maiden public meeting. To give a cinematic touch to the rally, a chopper will shower petals, while another will film the programme with movie cameras, organisers told PTI.

They also said that besides 18 special trains, about 1500 buses, including state transport buses, thousands of cars, vans, and trucks would be engaged to transport people from all parts of Andhra Pradesh to the venue of the meeting at Rajiv Nagar.

Moreover, 10 special trains have been booked to take the participants and mediapersons from Hyderabad. A large number of film personalities and a group of NRIs who have arrived in the state capital from the US last week to campaign for the party and mobilise public support for Chiranjeevi would also be participating in the meeting, the organisers said.

Over 126-acre ground has been cleared of bushes at the venue, where an AICC Plenary was held in 1992 during P V Narasimha Rao's regime.

With the question whether Chiranjeevi can recreate the magic of N T Ramarao who had stormed to power within nine months of floating TDP in 1983 doing rounds in political circles, the launch is keenly watched in the state. Chiranjeevi, who is expected to be the sole speaker, will be announcing the thrust areas, agenda and policies of his party.

An estimated 2,000 police personnel and 5,000 private volunteers of the proposed party would be on duty from dawn- to-dusk dusk on Tuesday, the organisers said. According to information reaching here, all hotels, lodging houses and marriage halls in Tirupati and surrounding towns of Puttur, Sri Kalahasti and Chittor have already been occupied by politicians and the actor's fans.

The police said vehicles reaching the meeting venue from far away places would not be allowed into the temple town of Tirupati as it was already facing a lot of traffic problems with the arrival of vehicles carrying pilgrims.

A TTD official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told PTI that the people attending the meeting should avoid visiting the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala as the shrine was already experiencing heavy rush of devotees due to marriages taking place during the auspicious 'Sravana Masam'.

If this happens, it would take three days for pilgrims to have darshan of the Lord, he said adding that the hill temple can ensure darshan for 60,000 to 80,000 people per day, he said.