Pawan is my political rival: Chiranjeevi

Union minister and Congress leader K. Chiranjeevi Thursday said he considers his younger brother and actor Pawan Kalyan, who recently launched a new political party Jana Sena, as a political rival like others.

Chiranjeevi told reporters here that while Pawan Kalyan would have his blessings as a brother, he would not keep quiet if he targets the Congress.

Chiranjeevi, who is heading the party's campaign committee in Seemandhra, believes that Jana Sena would not be a hurdle for the Congress.

"Brothers in a family may not have same views. Every individual will have a different temperament, different views about the society and different expectations. Everybody has the right to form his party," the former Telugu superstar said while reacting to Pawan Kalyan's move to form his own party.

While launching the new party last week, Pawan Kalyan had given a slogan "Congress hatao, desh bachao" (Remove Congress, save the country).

Chiranjeevi, who had formed the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) before the 2009 elections, later merged it with the Congress.

The former actor said he was confident that the Congress will come to power in residuary Andhra Pradesh.

He said a bus yatra to be launched in the state from Friday was aimed at creating new enthusiasm among party cadres.

Chiranjeevi said the party leaders would explain to people the circumstances under which the state had to be divided.

"We will promise to build a new Andhra Pradesh and make it the No.1 state in the country with help form the central government," he added.