It was exactly a year ago that the then megastar Chiranjeevi made his arangetram into state politics.

If he looks back, what he achieved was nothing compared to what he lost. He lost his glamour, image and even the credibility. In return, what did he gain? Except recognition from the Election Commission for his Praja Rajyam party, a handful of MLAs and a seat in the front row of the opposition benches in the assembly, he did not get anything.

When he launched the PRP a week after he came before the media, Chiranjeevi had high hopes on the people who treated him like an emperor in films. He thought people would give him instant recognition as a political leader as well. But he miserably failed to counter the wily politics of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu. And the result: he ended up being a poor third in the assembly and many leaders who joined him with high hopes had to go back to their parent parties.

The initial hesitation he had displayed in his first press conference on August 17, 2008, is still there in Chiranjeevi. Even now, he has not learnt the tricks of the trade. And that is why he is lagging behind the two major parties!