Chiru ready for debate with YSR
Initially though, in reply to a question whether he would take the challenge thrown by Information Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, he said he had no time for dabbling in debates. He was busy finalising his tour programme of going to people, apart from crystallising policy papers explaining his party’s stand on various issues.
Mr. Chiranjeevi made it clear that his focus was on meeting as many people as possible before taking up his ‘yatra’.
He said his priorities lay in touring the entire State and covering as many mandals as possible and talking to people in the districts and taking their feedback.
Fielding a question on new entrants, Mr. Chiranjeevi said the Praja Rajyam would welcome anyone with open arms. The screening process and filtration would be taken up later and appropriate responsibilities entrusted to people joining the party.
However, soon after the press conference, a senior aide of Mr. Chiranjeevi, K.S.R. Murthy, came back to the meeting room and said the Praja Rajyam president would come for a debate only if Dr. Reddy was present.
Otherwise, Mr. Murthy would represent the party and face the Information Minister or Chief Secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy or anyone else chosen for the purpose. The debate could be on any subject - rising corruption, ‘Jalayagnam’ or welfare programmes, but revolve around development, he said.
Earlier, Yelamanchali Ravi, son of a former MLA from Krishna district, late Y. Nageswara Rao, B. Brahmananda Reddy, former Prakasam district Telugu Desam president and Karuna, daughter of Mallu Swarajyam, veteran CPI (M) leader and crusader of the anti-arrack movement, joined the party.
The new entrants were introduced to the media by Mr. Chiranjeevi.
