By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
After the left parties, the CPI and the CPIM it is now the turn of the Praja Rajyam party of film star Chiranjeevi to attempt a foray in to the old city of Hyderabad, traditionally the stronghold of Majlis-e-Ittheadul Muslimeen (MIM).
Brushing aside the perception that old city was un-breach able for any party other than the MIM, Chiranjeevi’s younger brother and Telugu actor Pavan Kalyan made a whirlwind visit through the parts of old city.
Pavan Kalyan who visited a few localities of Chandrayangutta, Karwan, Yakutpura and Nampally assembly constituencies and hoisted the flag of Praja Rajyam party said that it was wrong to see any place or area as a stronghold of a particular party.
“Praja Rajyam believes in serving the people rising about the caste and communal lines and we believe that there will always be a space for the secular parties who sincerely want to work for the people”, he said.
He also made it clear that the Praja Rajyam was not targeting or working against any particular party in any part of the city or the state. “The party has been floated with the intention of serving the people as the existing parties have failed in this regard”.
On Tuesday Pavan Kalyan had visited parts of the new city and outskirts of Hyderabad including Jubilee Hills, Kukatpally, Serilingampally , Qutbullapur, Sanatnagar, Musheerabad. Khairatabad, Kottapet and Malakpet and evoked good response from the people.
“People would see a change when Praja Rajya comes to power under the leadership of Chiranjeevi”, Pavan Kalyan told the meeting stressing that welfare of the common man was the goal of the party.
Praja Rajyam will be the newest player in the Muslim dominated old city of Hyderabad. The CPI and the CPIM are also trying their best to break the hold of the MIM on this part of the city and local Muslim leaders of the left parties are trying to take up the issues of the Muslim community including the protection of Waqf properties. The TDP is also keen to build up its strength in the old city and projecting former legislator of MIM Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masqati as its Muslim face before the people of old city.
However Congress is likely to continue its friendly ties with the MIM and the two parties will contest the next elections together.