Kapu leaders stumbling blocks for Chiru

Look who is creating problems for film star Chiranjeevi! They are not Kammas or Reddys. But leaders from the Kapu community, to which Chiranjeevi belongs.

According to inside sources, the film star is delaying his decision to plunge into politics primarily because he is not getting the much needed support from the leaders of his own community. Chiranjeevi hoped to muster the support of Kapu strongman and Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao. But Chiranjeevi could not get Dasari's support. Sources point out that Dasari is not in favour of Chiranjeevi entering into politics at this juncture. Other senior Kapu leaders, both in the Congress and the Telugu Desam, are also against the film star entering the political arena.

The reason for this is quite simple. These Kapu leaders have been enjoying political privileges all these years. And now they do not want to hand over their independence to Chiranjeevi. If Chiranjeevi sets up a political party, all these Kapu leaders will have to play the second fiddle. And who wants to be the second-in-command to a film actor, particularly after calling the shots all these years?

If Chiranjeevi has to set up a political party, he will not get first class Kapu politicians to back him. He will have just second rung or non-influential Kapu leaders beside him. The film star has to depend on other castes for votes and this in a way will prove beneficial to the film star, political observers feel.