'PRP will contest with a common symbol only'

"We have made a very genuine plea to the constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, the high court and the Supreme Court for allocation of a common symbol for all our candidates. We hope they will respect the democratic spirit and not go against it," PRP official spokesman Parakala Prabhakar said in Hyderabad.

The party claims a huge membership constituting 20 per cent of the state electorate and that it is eligible for a common symbol, although it was founded only eight months ago. "It is not our fault that the elections are being held after the birth of our party. In any case that should not make us ineligible for a common symbol," Prabhakar said.

The spokesman said the party "strategically" withdrew the case court over allocation of a common symbol in AP high court, and added that they were now keeping all their options open.

"We want the EC to give us a common symbol in principle first. Then we can think of which symbol we get," he said, adding that they were ready with an alternative plan in case the EC decides against them.

"The PRP would wait till March 23 when notification for the first phase of elections would be issued," he said.

PRP chief and actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi said in Machilipatnam on Wednesday, that they were in touch with some parties in Mizoram, Goa, Kerala and Puducherry for utilising their symbol.

"These parties have been inactive though they have an election symbol reserved for them. We are in touch with such parties but we are also exploring legal options as well," Chiranjeevi told media persons during the course of his tour of Krishna district

When reporters drew Prabhakar's attention to Chiranjeevi's remarks and asked if the PRP would contest in the name of any of those parties if an agreement is reached, Prabhakar said:, "Let there be no confusion. We are going to contest on a common symbol and in the name of Praja Rajyam Party only."

The party might once again approach the Supreme Court for a common symbol if the Election Commission did not allot one to them, Prabhakar said.