Praja Rajyam (Telugu :ఫ్రజా రాజ్యం translation: People's Rule[1]) is a regional political party in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, founded by Telugu cinema actor Chiranjeevi on August 26,2008.[2]
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[edit]History
Chiranjeevi's foray into politics had been highly anticipated in media and political circles.[3][4]While it was reported that he was seeking the opinions of the people during the latter half of 2007, the media also suggested that he would announce the decision in January 2008.[3] He launched his political party as an alternative to the ruling Indian National Congress and Telugu Desam Party in his native state of Andhra Pradesh.[5]
[edit]Present
The first public meeting [2] was held by Chiranjeevi on August 26, 2008, at 120-acre Avilala Tank near Tirupati. Chiranjeevi addressed a gathering of about a million people and announced the party name and its agenda. The party flag, which has white colour to 3/4 of its height at the top, and the bottom 1/4 is filled with green colour, was unveiled at the meeting. In the middle of the flag a red coloured sun symbol is encircled with a yellow line. There are 24 red coloured beams beyond and around the yellow ring.
The green color is an "acknowledgement to the farmers", red symbolizes "change and revolution", the yellow border around the run symbolizes "happiness in every home", white symbolizes "clean governance and transparency"; the sun in the middle emphasizes the need for change and revolution.
On the same day as the party name was announced, Chiranjeevi's representatives submitted an application to the Election Commission of Indiafor the party registration.[6]
In the 12th of March 2009 issue of "The Economist", there is coverage of Prajarajyam party's meeting held in Rajahmundry and the impact Chiranjeevi expected to have in AP and India politics.(http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13278390)
[edit]Mergers
Nava Telangana Party(NTP), headed by a former minister and former TDP politician Devender Goud has merged with the Prajarajyam Party. NTP is a political entity campaigning for Telangana State formation and has a strong base in the Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh. Post-merger, Mr. Goud was made the Vice-President of Prajarajyam Party.
Chiranjeevi has also expressed his support for the efforts to forge a "Fourth Front" at national level.
[edit]2009 Election
The party contested in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh and lost all of them. [7] It won in 18 of 294 assembly seats. The party leader, Chiranjeevi contested in two assembly seats Tirupathi and Palacole in his native West Godavari district, and lost the Palacole election. It polled 16 % votes and was believed to have affected the victory chances of TDP. It came second in 31 assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats.[8]
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