Chiranjeevi formally joins Congress, hails Rahul as future PM

   New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, who
 had merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Indian National
 Congress sometime back, Saturday formally joined the party and
 hailed Rahul Gandhi as the country's "ray of hope" and future
 prime minister.
   Chiranjeevi, who led the PRP in Andhra Pradesh, filled up
 a form seeking primary membership of the Congress at a
 function at the All India Congress Committee (AICC)
 headquarters in the presence of Rahul 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
 of the future," the actor said.
   Describing Gandhi as the "future" and the "ray of hope"
 for the country, Chiranjeevi said the AICC general secretary
 has inherited the "qualities and passion" of his father Rajiv
 Gandhi whose birth anniversary is being celebrated Saturday.
       The actor said he was joining the Congress as party chief
 Sonia Gandhi has got a lot of affection and love for him.
 Suggesting that he was missing Gandhi, who is recuperating
 after a surgery abroad, he said,"I am not that lucky. I pray
 for her speedy recovery."
   AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge  of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, hailed the development
 saying Chiranjeevi is a superstar whose joining the party will
 strengthen the Congress, especially in southern India.
   Indian Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy, AICC General
 Secretary Janardan Dwivedi and political secretary to Congress
 President Ahmad Patel were also present.
   PRP, which was launched in August, 2008, has 18 MLAs in
 the 294-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
   The actor is considered to wield influence in coastal
 Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, but has only negligible
 presence in the Telangana area where a strong separatist
 movement is on.
   Chiranjeevi was earlier scheduled to meet Congress
 President Sonia Gandhi between August 7 and 10, to formally
 take primary membership of Congress. However, since Gandhi is
 recovering from a surgery in the US, the PRP chief joined
 the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. PTI SPG