No threat to Kiran Reddy government: Chiru

HYDERABAD: The much publicised merger meeting of the Praja Rajyam and Congress here on Monday gave enough indications to the Congress cadre that PRP chief K Chiranjeevi would play a key role in the state politics in future.Several Congress leaders were of the view  that the actor-turned-politician would compensate the damage done by YSR Congress party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Congress party in the state. Chiranjeevi too categorically said that the merger of his party into the Congress was not a defeat but a stepping stone for more victories in the coming days.It was supposed to be a momentous day for the ruling Congress in the state with the merger of PRP on Monday. There was a  celebration at the Gandhi Bhavan to commemorate the occasion with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana and a host of party leaders in attendance to welcome Chiranjeevi and his group of MLAs into their fold.Sixteen PRP MLAs, one MLC along with Chiranjeevi's brother Naga Babu, brother-in-law Allu Aravind and several others joined the Congress party.Chiranjeevi speaking on the occasion claimed that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government has no immediate threat as his support will ensure that the ruling party will not fall short of maintaining the magic figure till 2014. "If any one attempts to destabilise the government, we are here to protect it. I am confident that the Congress would come back to power again in 2014,'' he said.The same confidence was reflected in Congress leaders' assertion at the Gandhi Bhavan function that none could pull down the party government. Chiranjeevi said he was not expecting any post but would work as a committed  worker of the party and would act as facilitator between people and the government.Kiran Kumar Reddy said if Jagan group MLAs attempt to dislodge the government, the Congress party would return to power with a huge majority. He urged the Congress and the PRP cadres to work together to strengthen the party.Botcha Satyanarayana alleged that some forces want to bring down the government by purchasing MLAs but the Congress party would not be deterred by such threats. He said PRP-Congress merger meetings would be organised all over the state.