PR faces cash-for-ticket slur

Hyderabad, April 2: The Praja Rajyam is facing a series of charges in ticket allotment. The party has the dubious distinction of giving tickets to the maximum number of turncoats.

Leaders feel the “cash-for-seat” allegations is affecting Chiranjeevi’s image. Almost all the leaders who were denied tickets including Mr Kesineni Nani and Mr Battula Brahmananda Reddy levelled allegations against Mr Allu Aravind.
Leaders like Mr Brahmananda Reddy, Mr Dileep Achari, Ms Revati Narsimhanaidu and Mr K.A.N. Murthy alleged that tickets were sold in the PR. However, Chiranjeevi termed the charges as baseless. “These allegations are scripted
by our rivals only to tarnish our image,” he said. He added, “If we really sold tickets, then how can we render social justice in ticket allotment? This itself shows that the allegations are aimed at us only to malign the PR.”
Apart from “cash-for-seat” allegations, fielding of non-locals from some seats is also drawing the wrath of the local cadre. For instance, party senior leader Mr C. Ramachandraiah’s candidature from Machalipatnam Lok Sabha is being disapproved of by some of the local leaders. The PR is reviewing its decision of nominating Mr Ramacha-
ndraiah from Machalipatnam, sources said.