Chiru is like a married girl with changed surname!

The newly baptized Congressman, Chiranjeevi, says he is not in the race for Chief Minister’s post. He, however, points out that there are no “star campaigners” in Congress now and he could, in future, emerge as the party’s “Dalapathi” (Commander). The actor-turned-politician says he will accept any responsibility that the party President Sonia Gandhi entrusts him with all humility. In his first free-wheeling interaction with “Andhra Jyothy” after striking a deal with Congress, Chiranjeevi spoke about issues concerning his political future and factors that led to the merger of his 30 month-old party with Congress.

“I feel like a married woman who changes her surname after marriage,” Chiranjeevi joked on being referred to as Congress leader. His decision to join Congress was not guided by lust for power but by a genuine desire to serve people and synergize the mutual strengths of the two parties. The formalities regarding merger process will take about 45 days after which a massive meeting will be held at Vijayawada or Guntur, he says. Taking a dig at Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said he felt “disgusted” at the crude attempts to project former Kadapa MP as Chief Minister even before the body of YS Rajasekhar Reddy reached Hyderabad. “There are certain procedures for change of leadership. In Congress, there is high command which decides,” he said.

He was also quoted in the interview as saying that there was certainly a “political vacuum” in Congress after YSR’s death and that some people tried to exploit it for their selfish ends. Chiranjeevi made it clear that his fight against corruption would continue but his fight was not against individuals. Though he does not regret for joining politics, sometimes he feels hurt by the personal allegations.

Among the other developments, disruption to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s “Rachcha Banda” in Warangal district was given prominent coverage across the publications. His derisive comment that one would not stop eating just because there is an unresolved problem like Telangana was played up by “Eenadu” while “Andhra Jyothy” reported that a total of 101 official functions pertaining to “Rachacha Banda” had faced disruptions so far. The Chief Minister was forced to abruptly end his speech at Mulugu in Warangal district when a group of women continuously raised pro-Telangana slogans and obstructed the proceedings, “Sakshi”, “Vaartha” and “Andhra Bhoomi” reported.

“Andhra Jyothy” ran a front page story on the “depleting strength” of Jagan camp. Though the rebel camp had initially made lofty claims about their strength and ability to bring down the government, it is now facing desertions. As per the present indications, there was no threat to the Congress government, the report said.  “Vaartha” highlighted the change of heart on part of Jagan loyalists Shipla Mohan Reddy and Peddireddy who met party President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi yesterday and pleaded for mercy.

“Sakshi” ran a banner story on Jagan’s public meeting on the conclusion of “Polavaram Yatra”. His demand that the state government shiuld undertake the mega project on its own without waiting for central funds was highlighted by the daily. According to “Andhra Bhoomi”, the cabinet berths and other posts would be given to PRP leaders only after completion of the formalities of merger process.