Chiranjeevi's party may cross initial hurdle soon

NEW DELHI; The fledgling Praja Rajyam party floated by Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi may soon cross its initial hurdle as the Election Commission is likely to allow it to retain the name.
    
A day before the mega star's launching of the party, an advocate of Cuddapah had announced that he had applied to the Election Commission for registration of a party by the same name.
    
Chenna Krishnaiah, who had earlier decided to withdraw his application, has informed the Commission yesterday that it was a collective decision of eight members who had floated the party to give up the name, EC sources said.
    
The advocate's response followed the EC seeking a clarification from him whether the decision to withdraw the application was his own or a collective one.
    
In view of the clarification given by Krishnaiah, the mega star's problem with the name of his party could be over as soon as the EC might allow him to use the name.
    
The sources said that the EC would take a decision on it before Chiranjeevi's application was taken up for processing.
    
In true cinematic style, Chiranjeevi launched his party before a mammoth crowd of his fans and supporters at Tirupati on August 26.
    
The entry of Chiranjeevi, who has acted in 148 films, into politics has generated lot of interest as he is expected to alter the political equations ahead of the next year's assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.