Hyderabad, February 04PRP leaders vote for Congress
: Praja Rajyam leaders, including its legislators, appear “eager” to join the State government and want party chief K Chiranjeevi to “seal the deal” with the Congress as soon as possible.
About 65 leaders of the party, including members of its political affairs committee and 15 legislators, who attended the extended State committee meeting here on Thursday, conveyed as much to Chiru. After day-long deliberations with him over the “invitation” extended by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi through Defence Minister AK Antony a few days ago, the partymen, from all the regions, “authorised” him to take a final call on the issue. The star-turned-politician is expected to meet Sonia Gandhi on February 6.
Contrary to speculation that former Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s “moles” in the party could make things difficult for Chiru, there were hardly any dissenting voices at the meeting. Two legislators, Shobha Nagi Reddy and Ram Reddy, both Jagan loyalists, skipped the meet.
The rest, including two legislators from Telangana, notwithstanding Chiru’s united AP stance, were “upbeat” about the latest developments.
Interestingly, neither Chiru nor his close aides mentioned anything about a merger with the Congress. In his opening remarks, the actor explained to them Sonia’s “invitation” and sought their opinions.
Later, he had one-on-ones with each of the party leaders. A section of the partymen, sources said, were in favour of a merger with the Congress.
Legislators, mostly from Andhra, who are keen on joining the State Cabinet preferred the merger option. A few leaders, however, suggested a “working relationship” with the Congress to keep the party’s identity in tact.
However, none, it seems is against cosying up to the Congress.
“We want something to be done, whether it’s a merger or an alliance,” was how a party leader put it. Briefing the media after the meeting, PRP leader C Ramachandraiah said, “first we have to see what Sonia Gandhi is going to offer us. But we have authorised Chiranjeevi to take a final decision.”
–Agencies