Thaindian News

Hyderabad, July 1 (IANS) The Congress Friday hinted that actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi can’t be made a central minister at least till next year, when he may be elected a Rajya Sabha member.

The party has left it to Chiranjeevi to decide whether he would like be adjusted in the state or wait till a Rajya Sabha seat falls vacant.

After a meeting with Chiranjeevi, Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here that the party has no objection if Chiranjeevi is accommodated in the central ministry but clarified that the prime minister would take a decision on this.

The Telugu superstar, who recently merged his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with Congress, is reportedly aspiring for a berth in the union cabinet. He is presently a member of Andhra Pradesh assembly.

“It is up to Mr. Chiranjeevi if he wants to be adjusted in the state. He is senior leader but he has to be a member of parliament (to become a central minister) and this is possible only next year,” said Azad, who is in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

Describing Chiranjeevi as a top leader of Congress party, Azad hoped that he along with Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana would strengthen the organisation in the state.

Azad said PRP would also be accommodated in the state cabinet.

Claiming that the merger process has already been completed, the central leader said the proposed public meeting would only be a formality and the same would be held at an appropriate time.