Chiru’s promise: No ticket to criminals

Chiranjeevi, who recently became the second-biggest Telugu film actor after NT Rama Rao to take the plunge into politics by launching Praja Rajyam, speaks to KV Ramana

What made you join politics after 30 years of film glamour?
As an actor, I have received a lot of public affection and wanted to give something back to the people. I run a blood bank, but that’s not enough. I thought people expect more from me than just acting. In the run-up to every election my name would be discussed, but I never felt the pressure in the last four years when the calls for me to take the plunge got louder. In the last few months, however, the pressure mounted immensely.
 
Will you be able to fill the “political vacuum” in the state?
I don’t know if there is a vacuum. But people definitely want change. The several lakhs who voluntarily attended my party launch rally in Tirupati on August 26 are proof of this. I don’t think people would turn up in those numbers if there is no vacuum.

You raised several issues, including education, health and poverty alleviation, at the launch, but can you address any of them without being in power?
Power or no power, standing for people, taking up their causes are our broad priorities. We are not going to sit quite and watch people suffer. We will take up people’s issues on priority without considering the possibilities and impossibilities. Cent percent results are not the aim at this point. Social justice will be our focus and uplift of the downtrodden our priority.

Will you be able to achieve these goals without power?
Yes. If we are in power we will address these issues ourselves own. If not, we will make those in power address them. But for now, we are not imagining an ‘opposition’ role.
 
Social justice has been rhetoric for many parties, how do you plan to deliver it?
I have no specific political agenda. I have the popularity to bring people together and empower them. I think empowering people is the only way to achieve social justice. To go a step further, I think political justice is the first step towards achieving social justice.

But aren’t you taking in tainted leaders, defectors, etc?
Every human being is capable of reforming himself. May be there are tainted leaders, but if people have no cases pending against them and are willing to change, I don’t want to stop them. Finally, while assigning party responsibilities, we will conduct the required verification.
 
Are you saying Praja Rajyam will not field any criminal in polls?
Yes. Primary membership is open to all, not party roles.
 
You have been talking of political corruption. What is it and how do you plan to curb it?
I don’t want to go back to things that have already happened. But I and all those around me will maintain a clean image. Transparency and good governance are the key words for us. We want politics and politicians to be respected again. Today, the way leaders abuse each other in assembly and outside, the common man has lost respect for them.
 
Is that possible?
I am an optimist.
 
Will yours be a populist party?
I am not against populist measures to attract voters as long as they help the needy. But I feel such measures can’t be sustained for long.

You have been opposing SEZs. Don’t you think you are going against industry interests?
Industrialisation is extremely important. I am also not against SEZs but against allotting arable land to them. We don’t need industry at the cost of the farmer. But if people are selling land on their own, we have no problem.
 
Are you opposed to caste-based reservations?
I am committed to the uplift of the downtrodden. If the caste-based system does the job, we are not opposed to it. But we are also working on a special package for the economically-backward sections.
 
Why did you announce a party without agenda?
We could have always roped in a couple of intellectuals and come up with a colourful agenda. But that’s not how I want to work. Our agenda will be based on people’s needs. I am planning a three-month tour of the state shortly. Once I speak to people in every corner of the state, I will know what I should do for their welfare. That’s when, I think, I should finalise my agenda. After all, my entry into politics is only due to the desire of the people. I can’t have my own agenda.

You have still not expressed your views on issues such Maoists and Telangana. Are Maoists extremists or revolutionists?
I only know them as a group people raising people’s issues. Anyway, we will have more clarity on these issues before elections. Since we plan to have a mix of youth and age in the party, I think we’ll come up with some fresh ideas.
 
Do you think you will be able to form the government on your own, if at all?
I know I have to ally with someone. But as of today, people are welcoming me. In the process of going to the next level of governance, we are open to alliances. At the same time, however, I am not keen on joining the ‘Maha Front’ being planned by some political parties. Only thing is, since some party men have a Communist background they have spoken to some key leaders of the Communist parties.
 
The Congress is said to be keen on joining hands with you and has already sent feelers through Amar Singh.
No, no, that’s not correct. Amar Singh and Jaya Prada of the Samajwadi Party met me recently only after Amitabh Bachchan told them of the response to my maiden meeting. He (Bachchan) wanted them to congratulate me.
 
May be you have enough clout to go it alone at the state level. But won’t an alliance be inevitable at the national level?
Yes, it will be. In fact, I like the Tamil Nadu model in central politics. Any party from that state focuses on what it can get for the state out of an alliance. That would be the model I would like to follow.
 
Are you in favour of small states, such as Telangana?
I have not seen a small state that has developed after its formation in recent times. But if people think development will happen only through separation, I am not against it.