The merger of Megastar Chiranjeevi\'s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh has changed political equations in the state that has been witnessing instability for more than a year.This development will bring some clarity to the hazy political scenario in the state but is also likely to benefit rivals of the Congress party in the long run, feel political observers.

Though the merger brought some cheer to the Congress, Chiranjeevi is not expected to fill the leadership vacuum created by the death of its popular leader and then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in September 2009.

The merger of the PRP, which has 18 legislators in the 294-member assembly, will provide some breather to the Congress, worried over the threat posed to its survival by former MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of the late Rajasekhara Reddy.

With 155 legislators, the Congress enjoys a slender majority in the assembly and has been under threat ever since Jagan, as the MP is popularly known, quit the party in November last year accusing the leadership of dividing his family. The young leader, who enjoys the backing of two dozen legislators of Congress party, had been taunting the ruling party that the government is at its mercy.The merger has provided some temporary relief to the Congress, which was afraid of a no-trust motion in the budget session of the assembly beginning Feb 17. The ruling party is also confident of support from the seven-member Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) if the trial of strength becomes inevitable.

PRP, floated by Chiranjeevi in August 2008, polled 16.12 percent votes in the assembly elections, putting an end to the TDP\'s hopes of returning to power. The Congress, which polled only 1.99 percent more votes than the four-party Grand Alliance led by TDP, retained power with 156 seats. TDP finished second with 92 seats.

PRP\'s merger could also benefit Jagan, who may try to woo its cadres unhappy with the decision. A section of PRP leaders, including many from the Kapu community, are unhappy with Chiranjeevi.The Congress itself is facing criticism from Telangana protagonists, who see the merger as a conspiracy to weaken the movement for a separate Telangana state. Since Chiranjeevi is against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other parties have accused the Congress of going back on its promise to deliver Telangana.

Published Date : Thursday, 10/2/2011 12:40 PM IST

Raj : Media got benefits from merging with lots of speculations and stories. Pandage... pandaga srikanth : eri puku kappu na kodukulu entha avasarama eppudu nijam ga eri pukulu ayyaru tickets emo dobbuluku ammukunnadu eppudu party ni emo eppudu munnda (prostutution ) chesadu chiranjeevi antha yadava telugodu evadu undadu srinivas : chiranjeevi eri pukunakoduku kabathi prp ni congress kalipadu pukunakoduku ledanthe CM ayepodam anukunnadu e sari vadiki deposits kuda ravu ijswamy : Not much of difference. But a few casteist Kapu , Telaga, Balija , Gavara and others are hoping for better share in political power. Chhirru made an ass of himself by becoming a slave to Shoonya. satya : Bothe of the may be benefited but the people of AP as well as who voted to PRP are most loseing side raju : NAIDU OKA DONGA CHIRU OKA JOKER KIRAN WORST CHAIR PLAYER venu : seeing all things in AP politics CBI is not for justice . using for threatening oppose-rs. andhra people aware these silly and worst mentalities changes colours . they will make infinite mejarity to YSR CONGRESS SUBBAREDDY : CHIRU JOKER SONIA IS A WORST GANDHI BABU IS A MULTI TONGUE PERSON reddy rules : arey pavan,yentasepu kamma(CBN)gurinchi bada tappa common sense leda ra vedava kamma nayala..mundu needi kadugu tarvat jagan di kaduguduvu ra lafoot. pavan : party pettinappudu nee anthatodu ledhu ani mulaga chettu ekkichadam mana telugu media ki alvatu kadha . ekkistharu oke sari padestharu 1 2 NEXT Name : Comments :

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