PRP leaves alliance decision on party chief, Chiru bound for Delhi on Feb 7

As expected, the Praja Rajyam Party on Thursday authorized its founder-president K Chiranjeevi to decide on the offer by the Congress for an alliance in Andhra Pradesh.

Senior Praja Rajyam Party leader C Ramachandraiah told media persons after emerging out of Political Affairs Committee meeting presided over by party president K Chiranjeevi at its office in Jubilee Hills, Mr Ramachandraiah disclosed that a unanimous resolution was passed at the meeting.

The resolution authorized Mr Chiranjeevi to take a decision on the offer of an alliance from the Congress party.

Mr Ramachandraiah added that party has discussed the offer of an alliance with the Congress since its overall aim of achieving social justice, one of promise made in its election manifesto, is met.

He said that the party will not put any pre-conditions before the next step, talks with the Congress High Command. The PRP leaders will take note of the offer the Congress will put forward before the PRP for the alliance, Mr Ramachandraiah said.

The senior leader also said that the PRP chief will leave for New Delhi on February 7 and hold discussions with Congress president Sonia Gandhi following the invitation given by Congress Core Committee member AK Anthony.

Mr Ramachandraiah also revealed that Mr Chiranjeevi will take a final decision on the offer only after consulting the senior PRP leaders after his return from New Delhi.

He said the issue of extending support to Congress was going on since former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s rule.

Mr Ramachandraiah reminded that the PRP had supported Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections. The party also planned to work with the Congress in elections to Local Bodies, he stated.

The senior leader exuded confidence that Mr Chiranjeevi’s earlier controversial remarks against Congress will not come in the way of the alliance.

Reacting on a section of Congress leaders’ opposition to work with PRP, he dismissed these objections by saying that it was the Congress’s internal problem.

The meeting was attended by 15 MLAs. Three MLAs—Shobha Nagi Reddy, Kotagiri Ramireddy and E Nani were conspicuous by their absence at the meeting.