Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Aug 20: Popular Telugu matinee idol Chiranjeevi who floated his own political party Praja Rajyam Party to contest the Andhra Pradesh state assembly in 2008 formally joined Congress party on Saturday, August 20 in the presence of the face of Congress party and general secretary Rahul Gandhi, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jaipal Reddy and hundreds of supporters.

Soon after joining the national party, he said, "Only Congress is the hope of future. Rahul Gandhi is a ray of hope for the poor, he is our future Prime Minister."

He pledged his support to Congress promising, "I will remain loyal to Congress for the rest of my life, come what may."

Chiranjeev, the most admired regional actor among the Telugu speaking community worldwide is new to polical circles but his party won 18 of the 294 seats in the AP assembly during 2008 elections. Though the party has negligible presence in Telangana, it is thorn in the bush for the Congress party owing to the demands from the Telangana people for a separate statehood. But his party is reportedly strong in Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh.

It may be recalled that a few months back Chiranjeevi had merged his party PRP with Congress, but today he formally joined Congress by registering himself for a primary membership of the party.

"Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has a lot of respect and affection for me, I want to strengthen her stand. I was supposed to join the party in her presence on August 10, but unfortunately her ill health has taken her to the USA. I really miss her today, I consider myself not so lucky as she is absent on this important day. This is one of the most important decisions I have ever taken," said Chiranjeevi.

The Congress party feels that the Telugu superstar's entry into the party will strengthen its base in South India.