The Praja Rayjam party chief Chiranjeevi is slowly getting entangled in the complexities of taking a stand on Telangana. Chiranjeevi had earlier decided to adopt a soft pro-Telangana approach but is now reconsidering it over fears that it could have an adverse effect in the Andhra region. The actor-turned-politician is now using the tactic adopted by the Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu. Now, Chiranjeevi will announce his party’s policy on Telangana only after he completes his proposed state-wide tour. Before arriving at any conclusion, the PR chief reportedly wants to elicit the opinion of the people during his tour.

This is a tactic that Mr Naidu has successfully adopted. Despite the byelections, Mr Devender Goud quitting the party and intense pressure on him, the TD chief has managed to put off taking a decision on statehood. There are two different streams of thought in Prajya Rajyam on the issue. Andhra leaders say that since the party enjoys much influence in the coastal region, favouring bifurcation of the state may ruin its prospects in Andhra.

The Telangana leaders see the problem differently. “Though Chiranjeevi has considerable fan following in Telangana, the response to the PR is very poor in the region. A clear-cut decision in support of statehood will increase its prospects in the region,” said a Telangana leader. The PR chief has been discussing the issue for the past four days with leaders like Mr Kotagiri Vidydhara Rao, Mr Bhuma Nagi Reddy and Ms Shobha Nagi Reddy.

Ms Shobha Nagi Reddy said that Chiranjeevi had been considering the issue in a positive manner.

According to the sources, the PR leadership will frame its statement in such a manner that there will not be any negative effect in Andhra. This is apart from the special package for Telangana, that Chiranjeevi had offered while speaking to this newspaper. “We won’t oppose statehood for Telangana if the Centre decides to introduce a bill in Parliament,” said a senior leader of the party. “But we will not take any initiative for bifurcation. This will be our party stand,” he said.