Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi is not entirely happy though two of his associates got inducted into the Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Thursday.
"My happiness would have been doubled had one of our MLAs from Telangana region too been inducted," Chiranjeevi told reporters at his 'camp office' an hour after two legislators from his party now merged with the ruling Congress were sworn-in.
Chiranjeevi, however, hastened to add that there was no question of he being not satisfied. "We wanted a legislator from each region (Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana) accommodated in the ministry. It would have been just... but Congress seems to have its own problems," the Tirupati MLA remarked.
He hoped that justice would be done in near future as re-organisation of cabinet was expected after the by-elections in the state.
Asked if he felt let down for not having been given any significant post, Chiranjeevi said: "As a leader, I don't think about such things. I am immensely happy that my men got the posts they deserved. Personally I am not longing for any post."
He maintained that the merger with Congress was unconditional. "Our endeavour would be to strengthen the Congress from the lower level."
State Governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ganta Srinivasa Rao, a member of the Legislative Assembly, and C Ramachandraiah, a member of the Legislative Council, at a brief function in the Raj Bhavan this morning.
When asked if the beleaguered Congress would be able to turn the tide in Andhra Pradesh, Chiranjeevi said two-and-a-half years down the line, the party would strengthen. "The situation is not as alarming as being projected. The Chief Minister should be given time to settle down. He has introduced a slew of schemes that will take time to reach the people, though they are well-received," he said.
On the threat posed by YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Chiranjeevi noted that it would be enough if the welfare schemes introduced by the government were publicized well. "Counter-attack against Jagan can happen at appropriate time, but, more than that, we need to publicize the government schemes vigorously."
The PRP chief recalled his promise that he would save the state government if it faced destabilisation. "We could keep our promise and save the government," he said.
PRP office at Jubilee Hills, virtually abandoned since the merger with the Congress, came to life today after the party became part of the new coalition government in the state.
Hundreds of party workers and Chiranjeevi's admirers thronged the office to greet the newly sworn-in ministers as well as the party supremo.
"Future CM Chiranjeevi," they shouted. To which, the actor-turned-politician quipped: "For the past 30 years, I have been hearing this. But I don't have any such fancy."
source:Znews
