Keeping the promise made to the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Praja Rajyam Party on Tuesday unanimously decided to extend unconditional support to the ruling party in the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections.
The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, also decided to write to Mrs Gandhi formally announcing his party’s support for Congress candidates. He had met her the other day in Delhi.
The unanimous decision by the party offers much relief to the Congress and also heralds a new political realignment in the state.
In one deft move, Mrs Gandhi has ensured support of 18 MLAs for her party and has also checkmated Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who may get the backing of some MLAs in case he decides to re-start his Odarpu Yatra again.
Praja Rajyam sources said that majority of party leaders were happy at the outcome of Mr Chiranjeevi’s meeting with Mrs Gandhi and the subsequent decision to support the Congress.
The party chief briefed the political affairs committee on the discussions that took place in the meeting with Mrs Gandhi in New Delhi recently and about her request to the Praja Rajyam to support Congress nominees in the RS polls.
He also said that the party would take a decision on alliance with the Congress at the appropriate time but ruled out a merger. “The discussions were extremely fruitful and the party expects some goodwill gesture from the Congress too,” he said.
Leaders including Mr C. Ramachandraiah, Mr K. Vidyadhar Rao, Mrs Shobha Nagi Reddy and others attended the meeting. Surprisingly, the MLA from Telangana region, Mr Anil Kumar, who had been keeping away from party meetings, was also present.
“There was unanimity over the RS polls issue,” said Mr Ramachandraiah after the meeting. “The issue of future alliance and merger did not crop up.”
Answering a question, he said that nine MLAs did not attend the meeting because of some personal work and reiterated that there was unanimity on the issue. “Everyone is happy,” he said. “We hope the Congress would reciprocate our goodwill.”
Mr Ramachandraiah also said that a party delegation would meet the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, this week to seek national project status for Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella irrigation projects.