Antony meets Chiranjeevi, seeks support for Andhra government
By IANSMonday, January 31, 2011
HYDERABAD - In a significant development, senior Congress leader and Defence Minister A.K.Antony Monday met Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president K.Chiranjeevi and reportedly sought his support to the state Congress government, sources said.
Antony drove straight from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to Chiranjeevi’s residence in Jubliee Hills and held talks with him. The Congress’ Andhra Pradesh unit chief D.Srinivas was also present, PRP sources said.
With Congress legislators supporting former MP Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy contemplating to vote against the government in the event of opposition moving a no-trust motion in the assembly, Antony is believed to have invited the PRP to join the Congress government in the state.
The PRP, which has 18 legislators in the 294-member assembly, had last month decided not to join the government but indicated that it would extend the support to prevent a snap poll.
However, two of the PRP’s legislators have openly declared their support to Jagan along with two dozen legislators of the ruling party.
The Congress, which has only 156 members in the house, will also be looking for support from seven legislators of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).
Jagan, who quit the Congress party in November last year, has gone on record as saying that the Congress government in the state is at his mercy.
The ruling party also fears the opposition may bring a no-trust motion in the budget session of the state assembly beginning Feb 17.
