‘If Chiru comes to power, AP will become Singapore’

New Delhi: The heady exuberance at the holy city of Tirupati that greeted Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi’s political vessel Praja Rajyam lit up every corner of Andhra Bhavan here on Tuesday evening, with its staff packing every inch before a television set, lapping up every word of their star and hoping that politics in Andhra Pradesh would now mean “less corruption” and “more development”.

The action was in the police barracks of the Bhavan on Tuesday, where waiters, cooks, helps and also constables stayed glued to the live transmission of the party’s launch. Those who could not slip in a foot here, could be seen switching on sets in empty guest rooms. Even senior officers gave duty second fiddle during those three hours of the function, between 4 and 7 pm.

Expectations were high. Waiter and ardent fan G Chandrashekhar said 180 among the 200 of Bhavan’s staff would vote for Praja Rajyam, if “only for Chiranjeevi”. His voice was soon drowned in a thunder of claps and cheer that saluted the actor’s speech, every time he raised the pitch to make a point.

Another waiter, Anand Rao, said: “Chiranjeevi rose from poverty, he is in touch with reality. To us, the actor symbolises two things — no corruption and the development of our youth.” Many among the staff were from the Srikakalum district of Andhra Pradesh. A help in the kitchen Ravi Kumar said: “There are no industries or jobs there. But now that our star is in politics, things should change.”

For K Gopi, a newspaper vendor who has done business outside the Bhavan for the last 15 years, Chiranjeevi’s party unites optimism and dreams. His home is in East Godavri which has all amenities, including a super-specialty hospital. But Gopi wants more: “If Chiranjeevi comes to power, Andhra Pradesh will become Singapore.”

Other dreams are also riding on the actor — those which look beyond caste and religion. Employee S Murali said Chiranjeevi was above social barriers. “His party flag has a place for all — green for Muslims, white for Christians and red for Hindus,” he said. In this season of hope, the political conflict over Telangana may also see fruition many felt, while discussing the actor’s last visit to the Andhra Bhavan — in January 2006, when he had dropped in after receiving the Padma Bhushan.

Moving to the dining hall in the Bhavan’s canteen, one could see Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Reddy and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi smiling from the walls. Very close to Hyderabad House, this Bhavan has always been a whirl of activity whenever coalition governments crystallised at the Centre — whether Chandrababu Naidu called the shots or YSR delivered a solid block of MPs to make UPA a reality. For the media too, Andhra Bhavan is the nearest to the Hyderabad Secretariat.

Will those frames find a new occupant after March 2009 when the state goes to polls?