PRP merger formalises as 16 MLAs join Congress

The process of Praja Rajyam Party's merger with the Congress was officially completed on Monday with 16 MLAs joining the latter before the Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. At a programme held at Gandhi Bhavan, Praja Rajyam president K Chiranjeevi, who joined Congress on Saturday in front of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and other members in New Delhi, joined his 16 MLAs into the Congress.

Talking to media persons at the programme, Chiranjeevi said that he would work for strengthening the Congress as an ordinary worker without expeting any posts. Indirectly targeting YSR Congress party president Jaganmohan reddy, he said that some vested elements were trying to destabilize the Kiran kumar Reddy government with an intention to come to power.

Chiranjeevi said the Congress MLAs, who came to power with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, are trying to destabilize their own government. He called upon party workers to tackle them effectively and save the government. He said similar blackmailing tactics were tried when K Rosaiah was the chief minister.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief minister Kiran Kumar reddy said there was no threat to the state government even after the Congress MLAs who are allegedly supporting Jagan submit their resignations. If the government collapse due to resignations, he expressed confidence that Congress would win with huge majority in the next elections. He said that Congress has 34 percent majority in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions and Prp has 27 percent majority. “No one can defeat Congress in the elections,” he stated.

“The Congress will recognize services of workers and give posts to suitable candidates at an appropriate time,” he stated. He hailed Chiranjeevi for merging his party as it would strengthen the Congress.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa satyanarayana expressed happiness over Chiranjeevi joining the Congress party. He asked the party cadre to tackle those who are planning to destabilize the government by conspiring with money launderers. 

The Prp elected members took primary membership of Congress in the presence of Congress state observer K B Krishna Murthy.

Earlier Prp President Chiranjeevi got rousing reception at Shamshabad Airport, who came from New delhi after joining Congress, and took out a massive procession from airport to Gandhi Bhavan.