Chiru: I never backed Pawar

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, May 3: The Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi said on Sunday that he never backed the Nationalist Congress Party president, Mr Sharad Pawar, for the Prime Minister’s post.

He clarified that a section of media misquoted him about Mr Pawar’s candidacy. “When scribes sought my opinion on the candidature of Mr Pawar, I only said that he was also a competent person for the post like other leaders. However, my statement was misreported as if I endorsed Mr Pawar’s candidature,” Chiranjeevi said.
He further clarified that his party has not identified any candidate for the Prime Minister’s post.
“Partners in the Fourth Front would decide on the issue at the national level after the election results are out,” he added.
The PR chief said this during an informal chat with the scribes at his party office. Chiranjeevi also expressed confidence that his party would form the government on its own in the state by securing not less than 160 seats. “After holding review meetings with Assembly and LS contestants in the party, my confidence has risen. The increase in poll percentage and participation of women and youth is an indication of our victory,” he added. “Soon after becoming the Chief Minister the first file I will sign is the one supplying provisions to poor families at Rs 100 every month,” the PR chief said.
Meanwhile, even as Chiranjeevi was ruling out the possibility of a hung house in the state, his senior colleagues, Mr K. Vidyadhara Rao and Mr T. Sitaram predicted a hung Assembly.
“No party will get absolute majority. Whichever party emerges as the single largest one, will need PR’s support. Hence, the PR will play a key role in forming the government,” Mr Rao and Mr Sitaram said.