MUNI THE BOSS

Except helping the Congress to face the challenge thrown by former MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and strengthening its base to some extent in the state, the merger of Praja Rajyam with the grand old party may not cause any dramatic changes in Andhra Pradesh politics, feel political observers. "This merger is a positive sign for Congress in a long time. It is a game of survival. It is for mutual benefit," Telakapalli Ravi, a political analyst, said.



While Congress needed him to ensure the government's stability, Chiranjeevi needed an "asylum" as the Praja Rajyam is in dire straits having no sense of direction, he said.



"Chiranjeevi lacks the strategic mind to run the party. The party was going nowhere," he said.


Except helping the Congress to face the challenge thrown by former MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and strengthening its base to some extent in the state, the merger of Praja Rajyam with the grand old party may not cause any dramatic changes in Andhra Pradesh politics, feel political observers.

The actor-turned politician, with his strength of 18 MLAs including himself, would provide a relief to the Kiran Kumar Reddy government which faced threat with about 25 MLAs siding with Jagan.



However, two of the 18 Praja Rajyam MLAs, are in the camp of Jagan, while one party MLA from Telangana is in support of separate statehood demand.



Congress has 155 MLAs in 294-member House and about 25 MLAs had attended Jagan's fast in Delhi where he declared that the government is at his mercy. The simple majority is 148.



With the merger, Congress would have another advantage in the form of transfer of support base of Chiranjeevi's fans and also Kapu community, to which he belongs.



The immediate outcome of the merger is that it will help Congress to rein in Jagan who had said the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh continues to be in office at his mercy.