PRP’s merger will strengthen Congress: Andhra chief minister
February 6th, 2011 - 11:45 pm ICT by IANS
Hyderabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Sunday welcomed the merger of Telugu superstar K. Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the Congress and said this would strengthen the state’s ruling party.Congratulating Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the merger of PRP, he said the merger had provided an opportunity to work together for the welfare of the poor and the development of the state.
State Congress chief D. Srinivas said the merger would be an added advantage to the Congress party.
“We heartily welcome the merger of PRP with Congress. It will be an additional benefit to the party,” Srinivas told reporters.
He, however, claimed that the party was already strong. “We are already quite strong. This merger will be an added advantage,” he said.
Srinivas said the formalities of the merger would be completed after Chiranjeevi returns to Hyderabad. He promised that all 18 legislators of PRP would get full protection in the party and would be treated on par with other party legislators.
Srinivas said the protagonists of separate Telangana state need not have any apprehensions over the merger just because Chiranjeevi was opposed to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. “There are many within the Congress who want the state to remain united,” said Srinivas, who himself comes from Telangana region.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) legislator Harish Rao said the merger would have no impact on Telangana as PRP was already eliminated in the region after Chiranjeevi opposed the demand for a Telangana state.
Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary K. Narayana demanded that all legislators of PRP should resign and seek re-election on the Congress party symbol.
The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleged that Chiranjeevi sold his party to the Congress. “He has sold his party in wholesale. It is for the personal gains and not for the state’s interests that he merged with Congress,” said TDP legislator D. Narendra.
TDP chief N.Chandrababu Naidu held a tele-conference with senior party leaders to discuss the fallout of the PRP’s merger with the Congress.
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- Chiranjeevi's PRP merges with Congress (Roundup) - Feb 06, 2011
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- Chiranjeevi's PRP merges with Congress - Jun 13, 2011
- It's curtains for Chiranjeevi's PRP - Mar 12, 2012
- PRP's merger with Congress may benefit TDP, Jagan (News Analysis) - Feb 07, 2011
- Chiranjeevi, Renuka, four others file papers for Rajya Sabha - Mar 19, 2012
- Chiranjeevi to take Congress membership Aug 20 - Aug 13, 2011
- Sonia Gandhi assures Chiranjeevi of suitable post - Nov 16, 2011
- 29 Andhra legislators loyal to Jagan quit - Aug 22, 2011
- Congress, TDP, TRS issue whips to legislators - Dec 04, 2011
- PRP rebel legislator appears before Andhra speaker - Dec 19, 2011
- Chiranjeevi can become minister only next year: Congress - Jul 01, 2011
- Andhra CM welcomes merger of Praja Rajyam of Chiranjeevi with Congress - Feb 07, 2011
- TDP's Devender Goud, Ramesh file papers for Rajya Sabha - Mar 19, 2012
Tags: apprehensions, bifurcation, chief minister, chiranjeevi, communist party of india, congress chief, congress party, congress president sonia gandhi, formalities, harish, kiran kumar, narayana, party symbol, personal gains, praja, prp, ruling party, srinivas, state congress, state secretary