PRP - Cong merger meet in Tirupati

Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi on Thursday announced that a meeting will be held in Tirupati in which he would formally merge his party with the ruling Congress. However, the date of the meeting and other details were not yet finalised, but would be decided after consultations with the Congress High Command, the MLA from Tirupati told media persons here.

Speaking after inspecting various areas in the city, Mr Chiranjeevi said that the senior party leaders have decided that the grand meeting will be indeed take place in the constituency he represents. He said the party has aspired to get 180 seats in the 2009 Assembly elections but had to be satisfied with 18 seats only.

The actor-turned-politician had launched his party at Tirupati on August 26, 2008. “We have to respect the people’s verdict as they are the final decision makers in a democracy,” the PRP chief stated.

Responding on his role in the Congress, Mr Chiranjeevi said “whatever post the party gives, I am ready to carry it out with dedication. I entered politics to serve the people. Posts are not important for me.”

However, he made it clear he would rather be involved in state politics rather than playing a role at the Centre.

Responding to questions about the problems faced by the people in his constituency, Mr Chiranjeevi said that the officials have been asked to provide good sanitation and drinking water to the people.

Reacting on Telangana state, the actor-turned-politician said that he would stand by any decision the Centre takes on the separate statehood demand and respect the recommendations given by the Justice Srikrishna Committee.

“Whatever decision Centre takes on Telangana state, I will stand by it. Let it (the Centre) decide on it,” he stated.

Responding to criticism against the PRP MLAs by the MLAs close to the YSR Congress Party, Mr Chiranjeevi asked the Jagan loyalists to resign and contest on their own.

Reacting to allegations of corruption against the Congress and its involvement in scams, the PRP chief stated “there is corruption in the every party. There is no exception.”

“We are confident that by the time Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi takes over, a corruption-free administration in the country will be in place,” he hoped. Mr Chiranjeevi also said that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is performing quite well.