The story goes that within days of coming back to power, YSR had opened channels with Chiranjeevi’s Prajarajyam to make him merge with the Congress to consolidate his as well as Congress position in the state.

Now in an encore of sorts, within days of YSR’s demise, the party high command has begun exploring the same option and one reason is to check the perceived control of Jagan over the state unit.

Sources say that Allu Aravind, brother-in-law and manager of Chiranjeevi, has been sounded to convince the actor to deliver his 18 MLAs. Chiranjeevi’s response is not known, but political watchers said that he may be game. Aravind may be more keen, a Congress source said. These 18 MLAs will not owe allegiance to Jagan and this will help the high command to take an independent decision on the next CM. It will also help in solidifying the Kapu vote behind the Congress, a political analyst said.