Once a reigning star of the Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi is a discredited political leader these days.
Ever since the UPA government announced the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, there has been growing public anger in Seemandhra region and much of it is directed against the Seemandhra Congress leaders, Union Ministers and MPs who are enjoying power and doing nothing to stop the state’s division.
After facing the wrath of the public, Chiranjeevi is now facing anger of his own legislators who have told him in no uncertain terms that the people in Seemandhra would not forgive them if they remained in the ruling party.
Chiranjeevi on Friday met the legislators of the erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party who are considered his close confidants.
However, the mood at the meeting was one of frustration and anger.
The legislators, including the Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, told him that the political situation on the ground is very unfavourable to the Congress because of the party’s decision to split the state.
They told him they would have no option other than jumping the Congress ship and look for greener pastures elsewhere.
The meeting at his palatial Jubilee Hills residence was attended by 13 MLAs of his erstwhile Praja Rajyam.
It gained significance in the backdrop of reports that Ganta Srinivas Rao, now infrastructure minister in the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet, is drifting towards TDP in the run up to 2014 polls as congress party was totally out in the woods in seemandhra region.
“Chiranjeevi appealed to all MLAs to stay put in congress but we anticipate almost ten of 18 ex- PRP MLAs might shift over to either YSRC or TDP,” said a senior congress leader.
