M A I N   N E W S

Chiranjeevi’s PRP merges with Congress in AP
Suresh Dharur
Tribune News Service

Praja Rajyam party (PRP) chief Chiranjeevi (C) addresses the media after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI

Hyderabad/New Delhi, Feb 6
Telugu superstar K Chiranjeevi today announced the ‘unconditional’ merger of his nearly three-year-old Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the Congress.

The development came against the backdrop of instability in the state Congress, which has been grappling with the threat posed to its government in Andhra Pradesh by former Member of Parliament Jaganmohan Reddy. The Congress has 155 MLAs in the 294-member House, just seven more than the half-way mark. It is estimated that about 25 legislators are backing Jagan.

Chiranjeevi, whose party has 18 members in the Assembly, had time and again assured that he would bail out the government in the event of any crisis. His support will become crucial for the government’s survival in case of a split in the ruling party.

Chiranjeevi worked out the nitty-gritty of the merger at a meeting with Congress troubleshooters Defence Minister AK Antony and Law Minister Veerappa Moily. Later, he called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

Chiru may join Union Cabinet The merger came after months of back-channel negotiations and offer of plum posts to PRP leaders, including Cabinet berths at the Centre and the state. As per the merger deal, Chiranjeevi would be inducted into the Union Cabinet through the Rajya Sabha route while four ministerial berths would be given to PRP legislators in AP. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to expand his Cabinet on February 14 to accommodate the PRP representatives.

The handshake with Chiranjeevi is expected to provide stability to the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh and marks a turning point in state politics. As a mass hero, Chiranjeevi had played the role of a saviour, rescuing damsels in distress in several blockbusters.

In his political avatar, he has been called in to do the same for the beleaguered Congress, facing the threat of destabilisation from the rebel camp as Jagan has been aggressively poaching upon its legislators.

The development will also help the Congress in the event of a showdown with its leaders from Telangana, who have been threatening to quit if the Centre fails to grant statehood for the region. By aggressively wooing Chiranjeevi into its fold, the Congress has sent out a message that creation of a separate Telangana state was not on its radar. The PRP, with a considerable following in the coastal Andhra region, has been opposing bifurcation of the state.

The Congress leaders perceive twin advantages in the new relationship. First, Chiranjeevi can bring in the much-needed glamour to the party in the wake of a vacuum created by the death of charismatic leader YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Second, the move can help neutralise Jagan.

Win-win situation Merger is expected to provide stability to the Kiran Reddy government and help neutralise Jagan PRP, with a considerable following in coastal Andhra, is opposed to the state’s bifurcation. Congress, too, is not keen on creation of a separate Telangana Chiranjeevi will fill the vacuum created by YSR’s death. He may even be projected as a Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections as the Congress has no mass leader

At present, the Congress leadership is faced with twin challenges: it is worried about the possible erosion of its support base with the proposed launch of a new regional party by Jagan next month and is already grappling threats of en mass resignation by its own MPs and MLAs over the Telangana issue.

On his part, Chiranjeevi is also aware of his political limitations and needs the Congress platform to further his career. In the absence of a mass leader in Congress, he even has a chance of being projected as Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections. The 55-year-old actor’s tryst with politics has been anything but fruitful. Despite being a hugely popular star, he had failed to convert his star power into votes. As a result, PRP bombed at the ballot box in the 2009 elections.

Promising “social justice and change”, Chiranjeevi had entered politics with a bang on August 26, 2008 and raised hopes that he might emerge as an alternative to the two main contenders for power - the Congress and Telugu Desam Party. However, his political show turned out to be a flop.