PRP to go alone for polls

Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi seems to have given up all hopes of striking an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to contest the next general election

NELLORE: Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi seems to have given up all hopes of striking an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to contest the next general election.

Replying to a question at a news conference here on Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician said: ``We will contest the elections on our own. We wanted the TRS to join us and offered the best package of seats to it. It is now for the TRS to decide,’’ he said in the wake of the reports that the TRS is nudging closer to the Telugu Desam-led `grand alliance’.

Chiranjeevi said whether or not the TRS would come along, his party would be able to wrest a majority of the seats in the Telangana area. ``There would be no problem at all,’’ he said and recalled how NTR had swept the polls without alliance with any party. ``NTR had faith in people. So have I,’’ he said. Referring to the offer he made to the people that he would provide them 25 kg of rice, 1 kg each of tamarind, groundnut oil and red gram at just Rs 100, Chirajeevi said that it was not an off-the-cuff promise but was made after a lot of work had gone into it. He was convinced that it was a practicable idea, he explained.

To a question he said he never opposed welfare schemes. ``I only said Rs 2 a kg rice scheme would not be of much help to the poor since they would require other commodities also for preparing a `square meal’,’’ he said.

The film actor felt that it would be good if the Election Commission allotted his party train engine as poll symbol. ``It would be the most appropriate one since his arrival into public life had been likened in the past to arrival of a train,’’ he said. The Praja Rajyam chief said his party was determined to bring down consumption of liquor in the State. For that he would fix specific timings for shops to sell liquor. To begin with, he would order removal of all belt shops, he said. He said the basic philosophy of his party would be to provide food, clothing and shelter to every one.

All programmes that would be evolved would be based on these principles. His party would also lay emphasis on rooting out corruption.

A special institution would be created with an enlarged scope to go into all allegations of corruption in the government besides strengthening the administration.

Earlier in the day, Chiranjeevi addressed meetings at Kovur, Atmakur, Vinjamur and Kavali as a part of his Praja Ankita Sabhas.

He held a road show at Buchireddipalem.

Feeling upbeat over the presence of large crowds at his Praja Ankita Sabhas, the starturned- politician exuded confidence that he would win next elections.

Referring to the prevailing conditions in Atmakur area, he felt the need of having a study on the crop pattern. he said he would explore the ways to provide modern irrigation facilities like drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve the conditions after forming the Government in the State. He recalled the days he spent in Atmakur as a college student.

The PRP leader also alleged that some leaders were taking away sand from Penna river.

Speaking at Kovur, Chiranjeevi said sugarcane farmers were forced to suffer due to lack of support price to their crop.

He lamented over the Government’s negligence towards fishermen.

posted by MEGA NANI