Chiranjeevi rules out PRP merger with Congress

Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi has totally ruled out the question of merging his 15-month-old outfit with the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh.

"We shall not even entertain such thoughts," Chiranjeevi told a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Chiranjeevi reacted rather angrily to the suggestion made by some Congress leaders, including Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, that it would be better if the PRP merged with the national party.

"Such suggestions only indicate that the Congress has weakened. But we shall never entertain such thoughts," Chiranjeevi added.

Questioned on what basis the PRP sought to align with the Congress for the elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, he said it was only to ensure total development of Hyderabad city.

"Not that our philosophies are same but our focus is on the total development of the state capital. Hence we wanted to come together for the GHMC polls," Chiranjeevi observed.

He, however, was highly critical of the Congress for neglecting the development of Hyderabad in the last five years.

"Hyderabad has become out of bounds for common people and it has become a haven only for the rich. The situation has so worsened that the common man cannot even afford to buy even a square yard of land," the PRP chief pointed out.

Then why did the PRP crave for an alliance with such party, Chiranjeevi was asked. "There is a bit of optimism that at least now something will be done for the betterment of the city. We thought the ruling party would correct its mistakes and contribute to the development of the city," he noted.

On the stillborn alliance with the Congress, the PRP chief said only the second rung leaders of his party had talks with the ruling party leadership. "It hasn't actually come to me. But the Congress backed out following its internal turmoil," he said.

Asked if the PRP would now adopt a soft approach towards the Congress, Chiranjeevi replied in the negative. "We will have no soft or friendly approach towards anyone," he asserted. PRP would align with like-minded parties in future "based on the situation and the need."

Chiranjeevi exuded confidence that the PRP would put up a better show in the GHMC elections. Besides the 51 official candidates it announced initially, the party has fielded 13 others, including six Congress rebels, for the elections.

"In the general elections, we got a vote share of 12 percent in the Greater Hyderabad region. Now we hope to improve our performance and win maximum number of seats," Chiranjeevi added. The PRP would release its manifesto for the GHMC elections on Friday while Chiranjeevi would launch the campaign from Thursday.

Image: Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi