Is Congress using Chiranjeevi to checkmate Chandrababu?

If Chiranjeevi’s recent actions are any indication one is sure to get this feeling. For instance, Chiranjeevi announced on Friday that the PRP would not contest from Tekkali. Chiranjeevi said this had to be viewed as a mark of respect for the deceased Congress MLA, who died before he could even administer the oath. This humanitarian gesture however was misinterpreted even by his party members. “Though it was a good gesture it would have been politically prudent for us to wait for the Congress to make the first move and then announce it,” said a Praja Rajyam MLA. On its part the Congress is delighted by the megastar’s gesture. Top advisers of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, have already drawn up a strategy to counter the TD chief through Mr. Chiranjeevi. “He should cut into the TD base more than what he did in the elections for us to be comfortable in the coming local body polls,” said a senior minister of the ruling party