Chiranjeevi plans mass contact programme aimed at image makeover

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to build up his image among the people, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi is planning to fan out to districts in August. The star politician will engage himself in discussions with people to find out their pressing problems. Insiders in Chiranjeevi camp said a blueprint on the proposed tour of the state is being prepared. Sources said it would be modelled on the lines of chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's Indiramma Baata, a mass contact programme.""Chiranjeevi wants to be in the midst of people and will have community lunch with villagers. He is also planning to have night halts in social welfare hostels,"" sources said. Though the elections are two years away, Chiranjeevi's efforts seem to indicate that he wants to play a bigger role in the state politics, analysts said.
Chiranjeevi is also hoping to galvanise the Congress cadres with his path-breaking initiative. ""He will interact with the people and try to rectify their immediate problems by talking to the officials concerned during his district tours,"" a party leader close to Chiranjeevi said. Chiranjeevi's aim is to reach out to the commoners and ensure that the benefits of all welfare programmes of the Congress government reach the poorer sections, he added.
During his tours, Chiranjeevi is likely to focus on farmers' issues, facilities in hostels, housing for the poor and government's various welfare programmes.