Regret in Praja Rajyam over ties with Left, SP

Act in haste and repent at leisure. This seems to be guiding Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam party. After making a few hasty decisions to approach the CPI(M), the PR party is now introspecting its decisions. The CPI(M)’s internal report on political situation in AP, which was released in New Delhi on Sunday, has created ripples in the PR party. The CPI(M) placed the PR at the third spot after the Congress and the TD in popularity. This has led the PR party leaders to rethink on its relations with the Left. It is now regretting that Dr Mitra went uninvited to the CPI(M) party office.

Sources in the party said that Chiranjeevi was pained by the CPI(M)’s behaviour. "The visit sent signals that our party was craving for an alliance with CPI(M), when that party was almost inclined towards the TD. Now they placed our party in the third place only to put pressure on us," opined a leader who joined the party recently.

To make matters worse for the new-born party, Dr Mitra announced the very next day that it will ally with any party. That exposed the inexperience of the leaders and their lack of a political strategy. They are also concerned about the impact of Mr Amar Singh’s visit to the party office and the rousing reception extended by Chiranjeevi.

"We have been boasting about fighting against corruption and at the same time sitting with people who are facing allegations of horse-trading. If it were only Jayaprada and Jaya Bachchan people would have taken this as a film friendship. Amar Singh’s presence can give a different perspective. This will certainly send a wrong signal to the people," said a former MLA and an active leader in the PR. Senior leaders who were trying to tell this to Chiranjeevi could not do so. Surprisingly, the actor-turned-politician is also avoiding the media and is directing official spokespersons to talk to them.

Even after a fortnight, there was no clarity on any of the major issues and no policy decision has been made public. The standard answer to many of the media questions has been "not yet decided" or "no comments". The PR party leaders are refusing to react to comments made by other political parties. "We have decided not to respond to such provocative statements," Dr Mitra said. All other leaders have been asked not to talk to the media and there appears to be an "iron curtain" for both leaders and media.