Praja Rajyam Party
Encyclopedia
Praja Rajyam was a regional political party
in the state of Andhra Pradesh
in India
, founded by Telugu
cinema actor
Chiranjeevi
on August 26, 2008.On 2011, 6 February it was officially announced that the party would be merging into Indian National Congress
. As announced, it was formally merged with Indian National Congress in August 2011.
's foray into politics had been highly anticipated in media and political circles.
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.
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
. PRP merged with the Indian National Congress on 20 August 2011.
on August 26, 2008, at Avilala Tank near Tirupati. He 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.
The green color is an "acknowledgement to the farmers", red symbolizes "change and revolution", the yellow border around the sun symbolizes "happiness in every home", white symbolizes "clean governance and transparency"; the sun in the middle emphasizes the need for change and revolution.
Chiranjeevi at one time expressed his support for the efforts to forge a "Fourth Front" at national level.
During the all party meeting on 7 December 2009, PRP chief and PRP MLAs supported the formation of separate Telangana state.
On 9 December 2009 the Government of India agreed to the demand for a separate Telangana state for which the process would be initiated and an appropriate resolution would be moved in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. After the Home Minister's statement, many PRP MLAs resigned in support of a continued United State.
after a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi
. The merger was proposed by A.K. Antony, Minister of Defence.
He stated that he had originally been compelled to create the PRP on a platform of fighting corruption and ensuring social justice
due to the "rampant corruption" of the Congress government of the late chief minister
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
("YSR"), but that Congress now had a good record of fighting corruption elsewhere.
It was asserted by political observers that Chiranjeevi's move may have been prompted by his loss of support in the wake of his own strong anti-Telangana stance in recent months. It was argued in the press that Chiranjeevi's move would particularly strengthen Congress' hand in retaining the Kapu (caste)
vote, as the PRP had done particularly well among them.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, founded by Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
cinema actor
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
on August 26, 2008.On 2011, 6 February it was officially announced that the party would be merging into Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. As announced, it was formally merged with Indian National Congress in August 2011.
History
ChiranjeeviChiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
's foray into politics had been highly anticipated in media and political circles.
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.
He launched his political party as an alternative to the ruling Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
in his native state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. PRP merged with the Indian National Congress on 20 August 2011.
Present
The first public meeting was held by ChiranjeeviChiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
on August 26, 2008, at Avilala Tank near Tirupati. He 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.
The green color is an "acknowledgement to the farmers", red symbolizes "change and revolution", the yellow border around the sun symbolizes "happiness in every home", white symbolizes "clean governance and transparency"; the sun in the middle emphasizes the need for change and revolution.
Merger with NTP
The Nava Telangana Party (NTP), headed by a former minister and former TDP politician Devender Goud merged with the Prajarajyam Party. NTP was a political entity campaigning for Telangana State formation and had a strong base in the Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh. Post-merger, Goud was made the Vice-President of Praja Rajyam Party.Chiranjeevi at one time expressed his support for the efforts to forge a "Fourth Front" at national level.
2009 Election
It won 18 out of 294 assembly seats. The party leader, Chiranjeevi contested in two assembly seats - Tirupathi and Palacole - and won in Tirupathi. It polled 18% votes, which is considered for debut and won 18 assembly seats. The entry of PRP made a huge vote split between the existing major parties like Congress and TDP .PRP Manifesto
- The PRP's election manifesto said the party will conduct a probe by a sitting judge of the high court into corruption in construction of irrigation projects by the Congress government.
- The manifesto promised cooking gas cylinder and grocery items for Rs. 200 a month for every poor family, distribution of land among poor and total prohibition in phases.
- In the manifesto, Chiranjeevi said if voted to power the first file his party would sign would be for supply of grocery items for Rs. 100 per month for every poor family and will also supply cooking gas cylinder for Rs. 100.
- The manifesto promised many populist schemes to counter the Telugu Desam Party'sTelugu Desam PartyTelugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
free colour television and cash transfer scheme for poor and schemes like Rs. 2 a kg of rice currently being implemented by the Congress government. The grocery scheme was aimed to provide food security to the poor. - The PRP promised to implement land reforms and allot two to 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land for landless poor.
- The party also vowed to usher in 'gram swaraj' by transferring powers and finances to village level bodies.
- Promising to continue the current scheme of free electricity to farmers, the manifesto said the duration would be increased from the present seven hours to 10 hours. It said it would provide social security to farmers by introducing pension scheme for them.
- Under another populist scheme promised in the manifesto, the government would deposit Rs.100,000 in the name of every new-born girl child. She would be paid the amount on reaching the age of 18 years.
- All women will get free education from kinder garten (KG) to post-graduation (PG) level. The women members of self-help DWACRA groups will be provided interest-free loans. Women will also be provided 50 percent reservations in appointment of teachers.
- The PRP promised creation of half a million jobs in 1,000 days. It said it would also pay unemployment allowance of Rs.1,000 a month to every unemployed youth, and assured Rs.1,500 monthly pension to physically challenged.
- The party said it would try to introduce total prohibition in phases and shut down all 'belt shops' (illegal counters of licensed liquor shops).
- a complete text of Praja Rajyam Party's manifesto in Telugu language
PRP/Chiranjeevi on Telangana State Issue
The Praja Rajyam Party entered 2009 general elections with promise of Separate Telangana. The PRP chief Chiranjeevi campaigned actively in Telangana region. He delivered very emotional speeches in Telangana on separate statehood. However, this strategy did not help in 2009 general elections as all the major political parties (i.e., Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, CPI, BJP) supported the formation of separate Telengana. This lead PRP gaining only two assembly seats in the Telangana region (out 119 assembly constituencies) and no parliamentary seats.During the all party meeting on 7 December 2009, PRP chief and PRP MLAs supported the formation of separate Telangana state.
On 9 December 2009 the Government of India agreed to the demand for a separate Telangana state for which the process would be initiated and an appropriate resolution would be moved in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. After the Home Minister's statement, many PRP MLAs resigned in support of a continued United State.
The final merge
On 6 February 2011, PRP chief Chiranjeevi announced that his party is going to be merged with Congress partyIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
after a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
. The merger was proposed by A.K. Antony, Minister of Defence.
He stated that he had originally been compelled to create the PRP on a platform of fighting corruption and ensuring social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
due to the "rampant corruption" of the Congress government of the late chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
("YSR"), but that Congress now had a good record of fighting corruption elsewhere.
It was asserted by political observers that Chiranjeevi's move may have been prompted by his loss of support in the wake of his own strong anti-Telangana stance in recent months. It was argued in the press that Chiranjeevi's move would particularly strengthen Congress' hand in retaining the Kapu (caste)
Kapu (caste)
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes Telaga, Balija found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching"...
vote, as the PRP had done particularly well among them.