PRP is a workshop for auctioning tickets, says Katari

February 6, 2009

Hyderabad, Feb 6 (TNN): The former MLA, Mr Katari Eswar Kumar, who was first to jump onto the bandwagon of the film actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, on Friday announced his resignation from the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).

Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, Mr Eswar Kumar expressed his revulsion at the way Chiranjeevi was “auctioning party tickets” to aspirants. Chiranjeevi, he alleged, put the party ticket for each constituency, both Lok Sabha and Assembly, for auction and put the price tag on each of them, depending on the importance of each one. “The PRP headquarters has metamorphosed into a film production centre where the party tickets are auctioned in public,” said.

He said he had joined the PRP with a fond hope that Chiranjeevi would usher in a new political culture and engineer social justice. His experience in the party was, however, very bitter. “I, in the past, thought that he (Chiranjeevi) is a good actor. But now I have realised that he can act in real life, too, and pretend to be good,” he observed.

He decided to call it quits now as he wanted to forewarn the people, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, not to “make themselves fools” by placing thrust in Chiranjeevi. An impression was created in the public that Chiranjeevi’s brother-in-law Allu Arvind is selling the party tickets to aspirants without the knowledge of the former. Allu Arvind is projected as villain of piece. “But Chiranjeevi is in the know of all sordid acts of Allu Arvind,” he said.

It may be recalled in this connection that Mr Kesineni Srinivas, better known as Nani, who was the PRP Vijayawada unit convenor, also alleged that Chiranjeevi set a target of amassing illicit currency of at least Rs 2,500 crore. Thus, he (Chiranjeevi) felt that he would gain either his party won or lost the elections,” Nani said.

February 6, 2009

Distant hills look greener, goes a saying. For new comers into politics, Praja Rajyam Party looks like a refreshing change and for already experienced politicians of other parties, it is like a golden platform for better prospects. So, they come in large numbers to join the PRP, but it is only after a few days that they are understanding how chaotic the situation is.

Same was the experience of former Gudivada MLA Kathari Eshwara Kumar. He thought he would get a better chance in PRP than in the Congress.

"But after joining the PRP, I really understood what a confusing party it is. In fact, it is not a political party, but looks like a production house. In that, Chiranjeevi is the hero, while Allu Aravind is director-producer. Rest are all just actors with no proper role to play," Eshwar Kumar said.

He also agreed with his colleague Kesineni Nani that Chiranjeevi is a good actor not only in films, but also in politics. "He knows everything. But, he is acting as if nothing is happening in the party," Eshwar said.