Chiranjeevi's first leg of AP tour a hit

If the crowd turnout is any indicator, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi's first leg of Andhra Pradesh tour can be ranked as a "mega hit."

Chiranjeevi, who launched his Praja Rajyam Party on 26th August, toured Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts in north coastal Andhra as part of his mass contact programme from October nine.

However, he had to cut short his nine-day tour to a week because of a sore throat that made him difficult to speak and returned to Hyderabad today.

The Praja Rajyam Party chief was "attractive" in his first public show off screen.

All along his road show, Chiranjeevi was at times straight forward, at times attacking.

At times he was emotional and at times he was his normal self like the actor that he was, enthralling the crowds with some histrionics.

From the huge crowds that assembled at his road shows there were nothing but cheers all through his yatra. His political opponents, however, made remarks about the actor's new avatar and often tried to provoke him.

"I am into politics at the call of my beloved people. The rest of my life is dedicated to your service," Chiranjeevi said.

"My mother called me one day on phone and asked 'Do you really need to suffer the heat and dust, besides the unwanted criticism?' I told her 'Amma, crores of people are suffering a lot than me. There is no hand to wipe their tears. They wanted me to join politics and serve them. How many would get such an opportunity?"

She then blessed and asked me to surge forward," Chiranjeevi told a mammoth crowd at Vizianagarm, trying to strike an emotional chord.

In his new incarnation as a politician, Chiranjeevi precisely tried to display the same kind of affection towards the "common people".

The Telugu superstar was vehement in his criticism of the ruling Congress party, particularly over the forcible acquisition of agriculture lands for special economic zones and industrial development.

He was "enraged" by the "deep-rooted" corruption that was causing all evils in the society and suppressing development.

He attacked the grand old party over the corruption in irrigation projects, permanent housing scheme for the poor and other welfare programmes and asked the people to be vigilant.

The Congress was, however, launched a counter-diatribe and claimed that Chiranjeevi evaded income tax by concealing his real income earned from films.

The actor too lost no time in hitting back and said: "Had I been a tax-evader, why would the income tax department honour me with an award for prompt payment?"

To the remarks that he was a "political novice," Chiranjeevi's retort was: "If looting public money is politics, then I am certainly a novice."

"All students belonging to backward classes will get free education up to all levels. We will ensure uninterrupted quality power supply free-of-cost to the farm sector.Small and medium industries will be promoted to provide job opportunities for the rural youth," Chiranjeevi promised.

After a few days of rest, Chiranjeevi will hit the road once again and tour a couple of districts in Telangana region in the third week of October, PRP sources said.