Chiru accepts Sonia invite, meet may change AP political scenario

In a major political development, the Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, has accepted an invitation from the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to meet her on May 29 for talks on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The former MP, Mr C. Ramachandraiah, told this correspondent on Thursday night that he had spoken to Mr Chiranjeevi who is in Mumbai and the latter had confirmed that he got an invite from Mr Veerappa Moily, AP Congress in charge and union minister, and had agreed to meet Mrs Gandhi.

It was not clear whether Mrs Gandhi will be seeking his support to enable the Congress bag four of the five seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, or whether she would allot a seat to the Praja Rajyam from its quota, keeping in view the future needs of the ruling party which has a slender majority in the House.

The development also comes in the backdrop of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy defying the party diktat and insisting on touring Warangal district to console families of those who died in the aftermath of the death of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in September last year. Telangana groups are opposed to Mr Jagan’s tour since he is a staunch supporter of United AP.

There is speculation in the Congress that in case the over-ambitious Mr Jagan rocks the boat and floats a regional outfit with his supporters, the Congress can have the support of the Praja Rajyam’s charismatic leader, Mr Chiranjeevi, and his 18 MLAs.

The Congress has a slender majority with 157 MLAs in a House of 294. With resignations from 12 MLAs (TRS 10, TD 1, BJP 1) during the pro-Telangana agitation, the effective strength of the House is 282.

In fact when the AP Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, tried to have a tie-up with the Praja Rajyam for the local municipal polls, the Jagan group had scuttled it.

A few days ago Mr Chiranjeevi had said his party would field its own candidate for the RS polls, and would seek support from Congress and the MIM (Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) to garner the required 43 votes. PR has been more anti-Telugu Desam from the beginning.

Speculation was rife some time ago that Mr Chiranjeevi was not averse to a merger with the Congress. Mr K. Rosaiah, had an hour-long meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi in Tirupati, soon after taking over as Chief Minister, wherein he proposed that the PR chief support his government or merge the party with the Congress. Mr Chiranjeevi apparently told him that he would consider the offer.

There has been no activity in Mr Chiranjeevi’s party except for his undertaking some tours in districts. Also, a number of former Telugu Desam leaders have left the Praja Rajyam and rejoined the parent party.

Several PR MLAs have openly suggested a merger with the Congress since they feel it would give Mr Chiranjeevi a key role in state politics.