The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Bhuma couple joins Chiru

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Thursday, Aug 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Bhuma couple joins Chiru

Impressed by the actor’s promises to deliver the goods

- PHOTO: Satish H.

Warm welcome: Actor Chiranjeevi with Bhuma Nagi Reddy and his wife Shobha in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Kurnool strongman Bhuma Nagi Reddy and his wife Shobha Nagi Reddy on Wednesday joined the yet-to-be-named party of film star Chiranjeevi, who called for bringing about a “seachange” in the political culture of the State, including Rayalaseema region, known for faction feuds.

Welcoming the couple, he said they decided to join him, impressed with his ideas and goals of ushering in a change. He said there should be a change in the ‘political culture’ and politics must be a tool for uplifting the people.

Answering a spate of questions from reporters, Mr. Nagi Reddy said they were not aspiring for positions and had impressed upon Mr. Chiranjeevi the need to remove the backwardness of Rayalaseema region. Poverty remained at the same level and justice was not rendered, in particular, to minorities and Backward Classes in the region. This was brought to the notice of Mr. Chiranjeevi, “who spoke frankly to us” and declared that he wanted to serve the poor, he added.

‘Shanti yatras’

Replying to a question, he said the people of Rayalaseema were seeking development and nobody was in favour of a separate State. He parried a question on factions saying “you (media) still have an old mindset. There is lot of change and yet you say there is factionalism”.

He claimed that he had put an end to factionalism and had conducted ‘shanti yatras’ in this regard.

He said that they had worked sincerely for 25 years in Telugu Desam Party but had resigned as they found it difficult to continue in that party.

He described their stint in TDP as “bad days” which they want to forget.

Later, Mahajan Party leaders Sambasiva Rao and J. Gowtham, former Minister H.B. Narse Gowda also joined the proposed party to be launched by Chiranjeevi.

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