Chiranjeevi set to fight polls alone

By J.R.PRASAD
Hyderabad,

The Praja Rajyam declared that it would not enter into alliances with any party and presented itself as the only alternative to the Congress. Speaking to the media after the TD leader, Mr Tammineni Sitaram joined the party, the Praja Rajyam spokespersons, Dr P. Mitra and Mr Parakala Prabhakar, termed the ruling party as “anti-people” and said the people were eagerly waiting to dethrone the government.

“Praja Rajyam is the only alternative force to the Congress in the state. It is the only party which can defeat the Congress in the elections,” Mr Prabhakar said. Asked about the Telugu Desam, Mr Prabhakar said, “It’s fate will be decided by the people. We reiterate that henceforth the PR is the only alternative to the Congress. We are sure we will win hands down.”

“Especially in the Godavari districts, every candidate of ours will emerge victorious with a majority of 20,000 votes,” he said. “Our party will get not only the anti-establishment vote but also deal a severe blow to the traditional vote bank of the Congress.” The spokespersons attributed the shortage in fertilisers to the lackadaisical attitude of the government and threatened to take up an agitation if the problem was not addressed immediately.

Reacting to the CPI(M) leadership’s invitation to the Praja Rajyam to join the “grand alliance” in order to avoid split in the anti-establishment vote, Mr Prabhakar said, “We are not interested in joining any front. Our aim is to win every vote in across the state. ”Earlier, Mr T. Sitaram, the former minister and the TD leader from Srikakulam district, pledged his support to Chiranjeevi’s party. He submitted his resignation to the Telugu Desam and reached the PR central office along with his followers. He joined the party in the presence of Chiranjeevi.