Visakhapatnam, August 26: The Praja Rajyam party president, Mr K. Chiranjeevi, has said that he already knew that politics was not a path of roses.
Addressing the plenary of his party here on Wednesday, the megastar-turned-PRP chief said that though he and his party leaders were aloof from all controversies, they were being unnecessarily dragged. He said that he did not know why some newspapers and media organizations were reporting again and again that the PRP would merge with the ruling Congress party. He has unequivocally said that there was not an iota of truth in those baseless reports. He asserted that PRP would retain its independent status and function as a strong Opposition party in the State.
Stating that a vilification campaigning was going on unabated against his party, Mr Chiranjeevi asked his party workers and leaders to dismiss such false news reports. He said that he would soon announce with which party the PRP would have a truck.
Narrating the difficulties he faced after entering politics, the former megastar said that he had undergone maximum possible suffering during the two years since he launched the party. Stating that he could not be cowed down by such difficulties, he said that he would march forward with the overwhelming support of the people. He said that he has totally understood that politics was not a path of roses and learnt how to go forward.
Mr Chiranjeevi said that the party had invited only 500 functionaries for Wednesday’s plenary. However, arrangements have been made to accommodate 10,000 people for Thursday’s enlarged meeting. He also criticized that some channels, which did not know about the arrangements being made by the party were reporting that the plenary was sparsely attended. He urged the media not to distort facts.
Mr Chiranjeevi recalled that he had decided not to field a party candidate in the recent Rajya Sabha elections on the specific request of the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, during a meeting in New Delhi. The media reports also stated that the ruling Congress party may rope in the Telugu superstar to checkmate the rebellious Kadapa MP, Mr Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. He also came down heavily on both Congress and TDP for their alleged corruption and political machinations. He cited the allegations of corruption in transfer of land by Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to Emaar Properties, a private firm, and illegal mining leases during the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy administration.
Earlier, Mr Chiranjeevi inaugurated the two-day plenary at Port Stadium by hoisting party flag. Sources said that after re-electing Mr Chiranjeevi as party chief, the plenary would pass resolutions on various issues of public importance like the Polavaram project and price rise.
——NSS