HYDERABAD: An unscheduled meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of Praja Rajyam has sparked off speculation on the internal turmoil in the party in the wake of the drubbing in the just concluded elections.
Interestingly, the meeting took place in the absence of party president Chiranjeevi and in the wake of speculation that those who had joined the PRP leaving the Telugu Desam are contemplating to return to the parent party.
The meet, held at the residence of PRP general secretary Allu Aravind, was attended, among others, by senior leaders Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao, Tammineni Sitaram and T Devender Goud. All three are former TDP leaders.
Sources said that all former TDP men currently in PRP have been receiving feelers from Telugu Desam leadership that they could return to the partyfold.
On their part, TDP-turned-PRP leaders too seem to be of the view that they have no role to play in Praja Rajyam and would not stand to gain by continuing to remain with the party.
Apparently sensing this mood, Chiranjeevi said yesterday that those who came from TDP would not go back. As a quick follow-up, Aravind convened today’s meeting to get a feel of the situation and convince the disgruntled leaders that they should stay back.
The meeting reportedly discussed mobilisation of financial resources to run the party for the next five years and various options have been dicusssed.
Speaking to mediapersons, party PAC member Tammineni Sitaram claimed that the meeting discussed the steps to be taken to strengthen the party, particularly in the context of the upcoming local body elections.
Asked whether the party would have a truck with other parties, he said that no such decision was taken.
Asked about Chiranjeevi’s comments that they would explore the possibility of allying with other parties, Sitaram said that it was the former’s personal opinion and the issue has to be discussed in party forum.
