Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president K. Chiranjeevi, who came to the city for a darshan of goddess Kanakadurga on Indrakeeladri on Wednesday, said that he would pay another visit very soon for five days. He promised to undertake review of the party activities in all Assembly segments and discuss the party affairs with the local leadership.
“I was wondering what would happen to the party. I am happy to note that love and affection of people has not waned. Let this enthusiasm and zeal last till the ensuing local body elections,” he said, addressing the party cadres and local leaders before visiting the temple.
‘Permission denied’
Mr. Chiranjeevi said during his press conference earlier that his plan to visit One Town did not materialise, as “there was no cooperation” from the police though Home Minister P. Sabita Reddy responded positively to a request made by Vijayawada West MLA Vellampalli Srinivas for providing security. The police denied him the permission to visit One Town on the grounds that they were busy with the bandobust for the ongoing Navaratri festivities. “In any case, I would go to the old city in my next visit,” he assured.
Asked why he did not visit One Town when people were in distress during flooding, he said, “Though we are not in power, my MLA was there round the clock, helping the people. I could not come as Assembly session was going on.”
He said though Vijayawada had everything for it to become a big city, it did not develop due to sheer “negligence” of successive governments and elected representatives. Had there been industrial or IT development in the city, the people would not migrate to Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam in search of jobs. At least now, emphasis should be on developing IT and other industries in and around the city, he said.
He brushed aside the speculation that the PRP was moving close to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and that there was a crisis in the party due to this.
Mr. Chiranjeevi asserted that he accompanied Mr. Rosaiah on Tirumala only as a local MLA met him only to discus the local problems. On whether Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy should be made chief minister, he said it was an internal affair of the Congress, but also observed that “Jagan has popular support.”
Vijayawada West MLA Vellampalli Srinivas, Vijayawada East MLA Yelamanchili Ravi and former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and others were present.
