Chiru enters politics with style befitting a superstar

ACT TWO: Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi announced his entry into politics on Sunday.

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Hyderabad: Ending a year-long speculation, Telugu film star Chiranjeevi on Sunday announced his entry into politics and said pro-poor policies and social justice will be his party's main agenda.

Addressing a crowded press conference at his party office in posh Jubilee Hills, Chiranjeevi's session with the media was replete with histrionics befitting a superstar.

"From this day on, I give myself to the people," he said. “They say god lives in our hearts. I believe god has called me in the form of many people to come and join politics. I do not aspire for any post or power. If I can serve the people and bring about a change, my conscience will be happy."

The actor, though, admitted that substance was missing from his speech. "There will definitely be a lot more clarity in the agenda before the elections," he said.

He said that his broad focus was on the upliftment of the poor, social justice and bridging the economic divide between the rich and the poor.

Chiranjeevi also admitted his lack of political experience amidst political heavyweights like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and Telugu Desam Party Chief Chandrababu Naidu.

"I may not have political experience. I did not know anything about blood groups. All I knew was that giving blood saves lives. I started a blood bank and you can see the result of that realization. I don't know politics. But I have the sensitivity and the heart to understand how people suffer," Chiranjeevi said.

Chiranjeevi may be a political greenhorn, but his clout with the masses simply cannot be ruled out. Many say that Chiru, as his fans lovingly call him, will prove to be a formidable force for the Congress and the Telugu Desham Party to counter in the 2009 AP Assembly elections.