Chiru lashes at YSR for betraying BCs

HYDERABAD: Blaming chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy of betraying BCs by 

allocating a mere 66 seats in the ensuing elections, PRP chief 

Chiranjeevi 

announced that his party would give more than 100 Assembly seats (one-third) to BCs. 

The PRP chief minced no words in stating that the claim of Congress party on social justice was a farce and reiterated that his party would announce candidates in line with the party's philosophy of social justice. 

Addressing a press conference on Sunday to thank the general public and party workers for responding to his short-notice call for the public meeting, the PRP chief lashed out at the Congress for giving 138 seats to forward classes, especially 89 to one community. He reminded the chief minister of the unanimous resolution passed in the Assembly in support of 33% seats to BCs. "I demand the resignation of chief minister for failing to give due representation to BCs in Congress. I am surprised at the number of seats given to BCs by the Congress. We feel proud that our loud cry for social justice has forced Congress to take cognizance of BCs in the party", he said. 

Chiranjeevi claimed that a silent revolution was underway and Saturday's meeting was a glimpse of the larger things that would be unveiled once Prajarajyam comes to power. He said the party would come out with the first list of candidates in the next 48 hours and assured to give due representation to all sections of the society. 

The PRP chief said he was under tremendous pressure to contest from a constituency in West Godavari, apart from his first choice of Tirupati. He admitted that he was keen on contesting the Nalgonda assembly constituency, provided there was a provision to contest from three places. 

To a query on the likelihood of resuming talks with the TRS, the PRP chief said that the time for talks was already over. "All members in the Grand Alliance want the world to know that they are united, but the fact is that each of them is pursuing their individual agenda. I am not surprised at the talk of TRS walking out of the Grand Alliance. But, let me tell you that this is one way of staying in news and keeping others confused," he said. 

Admitting that securing a common election symbol was a daunting task, he said the party was optimistic of a favourable response from the Supreme Court. "We are doing our best. All we are asking for is a symbol that can easily be identified by the voter. However, an alternative plan is also in place," he said.