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The Praja Rajyam party of film star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi received a much needed shot in the arm on Wednesday with Shailaja Reddy, a high profile Congress leader and mayor of Nellore city in coastal Andhra, joining the party.
Shailaja, who created a stir today by remaining elusive for several hours, appeared with Chiranjeevi at his party office and formally announced her decision to join the party.
Welcoming her into the party fold, Chiranjeevi said, "Her entry in to our party reflects the response and respect women of the state are giving to our party."
Earlier in the morning Shailaja sent her resignation letter as a Congress member to the state Congress president D Srinivas, but made it clear that she will not be quitting the post of mayor to which she was directly elected.
Shailaja Reddy's move followed a bitter group rivalry with minister from Nellore Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, who had tried to get her dislodged from the post. Shailaja was unhappy that she did not get any help from within the Congress party against this vilification campaign.
After the Member of Lok Sabha Ch Harirama Jogaiah, Shailaja Reddy is the second prominent Congress leader to join Chiranjeevi.
After the silence of last few days in Chiranjeevi camp, which prompted a section of media to say that Praja Rajyam was not attracting any support, Wednesday witnessed a flurry of activity with hundreds of supporters from Anantapur, Guntur, Nellore and Khammam thronging to Chiranjeevi and expressing their support for him.
Chiranjeevi, who silently watched the growing attack from the political rivals as well as the media over the last few days for his party's silence over crucial issues, spoke up on Wednesday.
Addressing the supporters, Chiranjeevi rejected the opposition's criticism that he did not have any clarity on political issues.
"I have clarity on political issues and am learning even more from supporters like you on the problems of the people," he said amid slogans of Jai Chiranjeeva.
"Those who are saying we do not have any clarity, will get the reply from the manifesto of our party," he said, adding that he was very much clear about social justice being the goal and purpose of his party.
Praja Rajyam also gave vent to its anger and unhappiness over the stream of reports in the local media suggesting that initial enthusiasm was fading out and the party was not attracting any new supporters from other parties.
Reacting strongly to the report, the party official spokesperson Dr P Mitra said that the reports were far from the truth.
"Which other party has seen lakhs of people attending its meeting, thousands of people gathering at the party office and even trying to gatecrash into the office. Those who write such reports should check facts first," he said.