Chiru to campaign for Cong, DMK

 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has welcomed  the suggestion of Congress leader Gulam  Nabi Azad that Chiranjeevi should take a lead in the combined campaign for the forthcoming Assembly polls in the southern  state.

According to DMK sources, Chiranjeevi would be in a position to woo certain sections of backward communities in Tamil Nadu, akin to Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh.

Sources in the Praja Rajyam Party said Chiranjeevi was pleased to receive a call on behalf of Kalaiagnar (Karunanidhi) on Tuesday.

“Vango brother”, the DMK leader wished Chiranjeevi, inviting him to Chennai at the earliest to finalise his programme in the state. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram also played a major role in roping in Chiranjeevi for campaigning in Tamil Nadu.

“I am proud to be a member of the Congress,” Chiranjeevi said,  adding that he had decided to merge his two-year-old Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress to achieve social justice in a larger political space. The merger meeting of the Congress and the PRP is likely to take place after the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, he said.

Congress sources said Chiranjeevi is likely to visit Tamil Nadu between April 6 and 12 and will cover around seven districts and Telugu dominated districts of Salem, Ariyalur, Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Chennai.

Chiranjeevi said he has more affinity with Chennai as he began his film career there and rose to stardom from the scratches. “I owe a lot to the people of Chennai,” he said.