BY J.R.PRASAD
Hyderabad April 26: The Praja Rajyam is being wooed by both the Congress and the Telugu Desam for support in a possible hung House. Insiders are divided over which party to support, but TD-PR caste rivalry might just tilt the balance in favour of the Congress.
Even though PR chief Chiranjeevi has not revealed his mind, some leaders like Mr T. Devender Goud and Mr Bhuma Nagi Reddy, ex-TD leaders, are asking him to not join hands with the TD chief, Mr N. Chandra-babu Naidu.
Leaders like Mr Ch. Hari-rama Jogaiah and Mr P. Upendra, who joined the PR from the Congress, are also backing this proposal. These leaders contend that tying up with the TD would threaten the very existence of the Praja Rajyam. “The same thing happened to the BJP when it aligned with the TD in the state,” said a senior PR leader. “The BJP’s growth was stunted in the shadow of the TD.”
However, other former TD leaders like Mr C. Rama-chandraiah and Mr K. Kala Venkata Rao, are said to be pushing for an alignment with Mr Naidu. Based on the Kapu-Kamma rivalry in coastal Andhra, the PR leadership is said to be weighing the option of joining hands with the Congress. Congress leaders are confident that the PR would back the Congress in the event of hung House.
“Chiranjeevi is an intelligent man. I don’t think that he would align with Mr Naidu, whose nine-year regime put people to hardships,” said Mr K. Rosaiah, the finance minister.
Asked about the PR’s plans, the party’s political affairs committee member, Mr P. Upendra, said, “We are exploring various options.” He was quick to add that the PR itself would get enough seats and Chiranjeevi would be the CM.
The TD leadership has started luring the PR for a post-poll alliance. The TD politburo member, Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, said the PR would join hands with the TD as Chiranjeevi had good relations with Mr Naidu. It is learnt that the TD leadership fears that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhara Rao, would move out of the coalition.
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