Hyderabad:
It is a
kahaani me twist in Andhra's political theatre. Chiranjeevi and the Congress have decided to join hands and their first test will be the municipal elections in Hyderabad this month. But while Chiranjeevi and many in the Congress are happy with this alliance, the Jaganmohan Reddy camp is seeing this as an attempt to clip its wings.
The Congress party's alliance with Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam for the municipal elections in Hyderabad has not gone down well with the Jaganmohan Reddy camp within the Congress.
The hope is that even though Chiranjeevi flopped in his debut as a solo politician, he would do better in a multistarrer Congress production. But the real purpose is to use Chiranjeevi's 18 MLAs as a buffer in case Jaganmohan Reddy takes the extreme step of splitting the party in Andhra Pradesh.
The decision to join hands with Chiranjeevi was apparently taken after the dramatic resignation of women and child welfare minister Surekha last week, demanding that Jagan be made CM. Congress leaders say it would send wrong signals to the electorate.
"Other political parties are saying that Congress party has lost its strength in the city that is why they are looking for alliance," said D Nagender, President, Greater Hyderabad Congress.
For the Praja Rajyam, this is an unexpected opportunity. Insiders in both parties say, Chiranjeevi could even become a minister in the Rosaiah Cabinet after the municipal elections.
"We would like to have an understanding in the long run. It is not only for the time being for this election," said K Vidhyadhar Rao, Praja Rajyam leader.
Seat-sharing has not yet been finalised. Political observers say the alliance with Chiranjeevi could prove the proverbial last straw on the camel's back for the Jagan camp.