Chiranjeevi officially joins Congress Party

Its now official. Actor-turned-politician K Chiranjeevi is now a member of Congress party and the Praja Rajyam Party that he founded is dead.

Hailing All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi as the `ray of hope’ and future prime minister, Chiranjeevi on Saturday formally joined the Congress party. At AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Chiranjeevi filled up a form seeking primary membership of the Congress in the presence of Gandhi and senior leaders.

"I will remain in the Congress for the rest of my life. I will be a loyal worker...I thank Rahulji, our Prime Minister in the future," the actor said. Chiranjeevi also described Rahul Gandhi as the `future’ and the `ray of hope’ for the country.

Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi and political secretary to Congress president Ahmad Patel were present on the occasion.

Praja Rajyam, which was launched in August 2008, has 18 MLAs in the 294-member AP Assembly. Chiranjeevi is believed to have influence in coastal Andhra, especially among Kapus. The Praja Rajyam Party will be merged with the Congress on 22nd August, on the occasion of Chiranjeevi's birthday.