JOIN USChiranjeevi's star turn draws thousands
People had gathered in thousands to hear the superstar on the last day of the canvassing to the byelection in Bangarpet, polling for which will be conducted on Saturday.
Seeing the mass of people at a roadshow organised by the Congress party, the actor was emotionally charged.
“Even before my party merges with the Congress party, I am standing before you and it is a sensational feeling for me. I have already become a family member of the party. This is the first time I am participating in the Congress party’s public meeting. My party’s merger has begun from here.”
Speaking in chaste Telugu, Chiranjeevi said, “Looking at you people, I feel that there is no end to the love and affection you show me. I wonder now, why I did not come all these years to meet you.”
“I have still not risen in the party. After I fully become a Congressman, if there is any gift you can give me, then you must elect the candidate standing before you,” he said pointing at Congress candidate K M Narayanaswamy.
“When AICC president Sonia Gandhi told me that she needs to utilise my services nationwide, I bowed to her wishes and was proud. Fans like you have played a major role in my decision to join Congress,” he said.
“People are asking me why a party with a 70 lakh support base is merging with the Congress. The only reason I took the decision is to give social justice to everyone,” he said.
“I have realised my limitations as an individual. At the same time Congress has invited me. A joint effort will continue. This will be a win-win situation for both the parties,” he said.
Throughout the meeting the fans kept garlanding him and some of the floral offerings were really huge.
After the speech, Chiranjeevi was taken around in an open jeep in a roadshow that passed through Edward King Hall, Nandi Circle, Bazaar Road and bus stand.
With more than 50,000 people gathered on the road to catch a glimpse of the superstar, traffic was disrupted. Many of the people were nearly trampled in the melee. Police and the hospital staff who were at hand administered first aid to the affected.
Throughout the procession route, people standing atop buildings showered Chiranjeevi with flowers. The procession took about two hours to culminate.
Chiranjeevi even skipped lunch as the canvassing had to end before 5 pm. Later, moving to the villages he sought votes for the Congress candidate. Earlier in the day, Chiranjeevi met Union Minister K H Muniyappa at the latter’s residence in Kolar. The two then headed to Bangarpet.