Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090753730600.htm
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Andhra Pradesh

Praja Rajyam spokesman says it is just a courtesy call

Special Correspondent

Downplays today’s meeting of SP leaders with Chiranjeevi


Praja Rajyam preoccupied with gauging people’s support, says spokesman

Party not averse to talking to potential allies


HYDERABAD: The Praja Rajyam party has sought to downplay the political significance of the meeting of Samajwadi Party leaders Amar Singh, Jaya Bachchan and Jayaprada with actor Chiranjeevi slated for Sunday.

It described the meeting as a ‘courtesy call’ by the Samajwadi party leaders to congratulate Mr. Chiranjeevi on launching his party. When his attention was drawn to Mr. Singh’s statement that the SP was willing to join hands with Praja Rajyam in Andhra Pradesh and that the Bachchan family would even participate in the election campaign, party spokesman Parakala Prabhakar said: “Let us hear from the horse’s mouth about it.”

Asked to react to CPI (M) secretary B.V. Raghavulu’s remark that they would discuss at the party’s Polit Bureau the issue of sailing with Praja Rajyam in the elections, Mr. Parakala said that his party leaders were presently preoccupied with creating the organisational structure and gauging people’s support. At the same time, he asserted that the party was not averse to talking to potential allies and even political rivals.

‘Hobnobbing’

The Telugu Desam Party has derided SP’s attempts to move close to Praja Rajyam.

TDP MP K. Yerran Naidu said the SP was hobnobbing with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh by holding seat adjustment talks with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Simultaneously, it was evincing interest in Praja Rajyam which was opposed to the Congress in the State.

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