Chiranjeevi writes a new script News Archive News

Spin doctors comprising former IAS and IPS officers,an international film distribution company that is doubling up as a campaign management agency....

Written by Sreenivas Janyala

Hyderabad | March 26, 2009 12:02 AM IST

4 min read

Spin doctors comprising former IAS and IPS officers,an international film distribution company that is doubling up as a campaign management agency,a multi-pronged e-campaign,human intelligence from the grassroots and a 21-point selection criteria for candidates. Chiranjeevis Praja Rajyam Party PRP is leaving nothing to chance.

Every day of the past month,a team of former bureaucrats and police officers,lawyers and political leaders have been sitting down with reports sent by teams of party workers from various Assembly segments to pick the right candidates. They match their instincts,and the probable candidates popularity chart,with a report generated by computers using a dedicated software. The computers pit the probable names against a 21-point criteria,which,among other things,include understanding of local issues,participation in social work,credibility in public,acceptability among other castes,and education.

The computers come at the second stage before the decision is taken. We rely primarily on what our teams report. These teams have fanned out in all constituencies,observing and interviewing persons involved in public and social life and assessing their chances of winning. Even if a probable candidate belongs to the dominant caste in his area,it is important that he is acceptable to voters of other castes and communities too, says PRP leader T Sesha Narayan.

The partys think-tank has three officers,who recently quit the civil service for the PRP former Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority MHADA T Chandrasekhar,who hails from Guntur district,V Varaprasad Rao Tamil Nadu cadre who quit as Principal Secretary,Information,and K V Rao who quit as Principal Secretary of Infrastructure and Industry. Former IPS officer C Anjaneya Reddy is also a part of the team,members of which may be asked to contest either to the Lok Sabha or the Assembly.

Politicians who quit other parties to join the PRP chip in with their valuable field experience,including providing information on vital caste combinations and voting patterns. They head different committees in the party and make valuable contributions in helping the party leadership to take decisions, says chief spokesperson Dr P Mitra Reddy.

The partys high-pitched campaign programme and event management is being handled by a film distribution company that screens Telugu films in South-East Asia,Eastern Europe,UK and the US. The company earlier used to distribute films produced by Allu Aravind,brother-in-law of PRP chief Chiranjeevi. The company has years of experience in planning and organising publicity events on a massive scale. Due to its association with Allu Aravind,the company naturally took over the campaign and publicity management for Chiranjeevi and his party, says PRP coordinator Rajkumar. So far,the company has managed 191 roadshows in 21 districts and three mammoth public meetings. The company also organises photo shoots and directs the partys TV commercials. Chiranjeevi himself has appeared in a couple of these videos.

It was a conscious decision that neither Chiranjeevi nor brother Pavan Kalyan will don khadi whitesthe traditional attire of politicians. Instead,they slip into cotton shirts with trousers or jeans,making it easier to mingle with the masses.

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Borrowing from the Gujarat BJPs successful Modi masks idea,the PRP has ordered thousands of non-toxic Chiranjeevi masks that are now distributed at every public meeting and roadshow. The IT and Communication Cell ensures that there is a steady flow of text and voice messages to the people.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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