Tirupathi Congressmen Ignore Chiranjeevi

After making his party's merger with Congress official, erstwhile-PRP chief K Chiranjeevi made a first visit to his home constituency, Tirupathi. Contrary to the expectations, the local Congress cadre cold shouldered him and no one turned up at Renigunta Airport to receive him, except PRP leaders Saikam Jayachandra Reddy and Vooka Vijaykumar.

The Congress cadre contend that Mr Chiranjeevi depended on top-level leaders in New Delhi and Hyderabad to make an entry into the party, but completely ignored local party workers. "There is no need for us to go to him and he has not informed us about his visit. After all, he is a local MLA and doesn't require any special welcome. Based on instructions from the PCC, we will examine whether to extend cooperation to him in the future," said a senior Congress leader. On the other hand, some senior political observers feel that state top party leadership is not that keen on giving importance to the actor-turned politician.