Date:29/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/29/stories/2008092954000400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Congress to rope in Krishna, Mahesh fans

HYDERABAD: With the Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi announcing his party’s programme from October 2, efforts have begun in actor Krishna and Mahesh Babu camps to bring all their fans associations under one umbrella and help the ruling Congress party.

The Congress is trying to rope in Mahesh Babu to campaign for it in the next elections in wake of Chiranjeevi announcing new party and Nandamuri clan backing the TDP.

Actor Krishna’s brother and chairman of Andhra Pradesh Film and Television Development Corporation Chairman G. Adiseshagiri Rao is holding meetings of the various Mahesh Babu and Krishna fans associations for the past one week at Padmalaya studios to bring about unity and unveil a comprehensive programme. Mr. Rao plans to announce a new name for the proposed outfit that would merge all existing fans association of the two stars. A flag would also be unveiled on October 2 .

The idea is to encourage fans to take up social service activity and also back the Congress party. The plan was to take up membership drive from October 2 and enrol close to 50-lakh fans as active members, sources close to Mr. Rao said. A massive meeting is also planned by the new association in Burripalem, the birth place of actor Krishna in Guntur districts.

“When fans of Chiranjeevi and Nandamuri clan are backing PR and TDP, there is nothing wrong in roping in fans of Mahesh Babu and Krishna to support the Congress,” a key functionary of All-India Krishna Mahesh Babu Sena reasoned.