Chiranjeevi drops rail engine as party symbol

Still recovering from the rude shock he received in the elections, the film-star-turned politician Chiranjeevi has decided to change his Praja Rajyam Party's election symbol, dropping the heavyweight 'Rail Engine'.

Confirming the news, Chiranjeevi told the media that a couple of new symbols were under consideration and soon the party will apply to the Election Commission for allotment of the new symbol.

Apparently the party decided to do away with 'rail engine' symbol on the advice of some astrologers and other experts who told Chiranjeevi that any thing made up of iron and heavy in weight will not be suitable as an election symbol.

"You should opt for something light," one of them told the party. Sun and clock are among the five or six symbols under consideration of the party.

Chiranjeevi had fought hard to secure the symbol of rail engine for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections and even went to Supreme Court to force the Election Commission to allot this symbol.

But PRP's performance turned out to be a big disappointment to its supporters as it managed to win only 18 assembly seats and did not open its account in Lok Sabha. Many blamed it on the symbol of Rail Engine. 

The PRP calculates that securing a new symbol will not be difficult because it has already been recognized by the Election Commission as the state party as it had polled more than 15% in the recent elections. 

 The party is in a hurry for a new symbol as it wants to contest the forthcoming civic elections, specially the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls on the new symbol. 

Chiranjeevi said that he was also open to have an alliance with the Left parties for the civic elections provided they severe relations with the Telugu Desam Party. 

CPM secretary B V Raghavulu said that the party was willing to join hands with PRP with out any precondition.