Don't field candidate in RS polls: Sonia to Chiranjeevi

Rattled by the open defiance of its leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asked Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi not to field any nominees for the Rajya Sabha polls, so that there is no threat to party candidates.

Chiranjeevi, who met Gandhi on her invitation, assured her that he would get back within two days after holding talks with party leaders.

The two leaders met in the wake of Kadapa Member of Parliament Jaganmohan embarrassing the Congress leadership by going ahead with his 'Odarpu yatra' despite being asked not to do so. Chiranjeevi also ruled out the merger of PRP with the Sonia Gandhi-led party.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi requested me to withdraw our candidate from the Rajya Sabha polls. I told her that I will discuss the issue among party leaders and get back in two days," he told reporters after his 30-minute meeting at 10, Janpath.

In a significant remark, the actor-turned politician said since Gandhi had personally requested him to reconsider the party's decision, "I will have to consider (her request)."

The Congress high command asked Chiranjeevi to come for talks after he announced that his party will field a candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.

If the PRP, which has 16 members in the 294-member assembly, fields a candidate, a contest will be thrust upon the Congress. The party is already facing factionalism in its state unit after the death of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The party also does not want to take any chances in the wake of the open defiance of Reddy's son Jaganmohan, who is said to enjoy the support of several Members of Legislative Assembly, MPs and ministers.

With 156 MLAs, the Congress can get four members elected to the Upper House on its own, but it wants to avoid a contest.

Asked whether his party will merge with the Congress, Chiranjeevi said there was no question of such a merger.

Congress leaders feel an understanding with Chiranjeevi's PRP will help in reining in Jaganmohan, whose defiance has led to apprehensions in the party of a possible split its state unit.

Chiranjeevi said he also apprised Sonia Gandhi of his recent tour of the state and the response he got from the people.

"I also appealed to her to accord national status for the Polavaram irrigation project. She asked me to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discuss this. I will meet the PM," the actor-turned politician said.

Ahead of his meeting, Chiranjeevi held talks with senior Congress leaders Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel, Gandhi's political adviser. They were also present during the meeting at 10, Janpath.

Earlier, Chiranjeevi told journalists after his arrival in New Delhi, "We have been opposing the Congress only on the basis of issues. I have great regard for the prime minister and the Congress president."