Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) President K Chiranjeevi on Tuesday was accorded a rousing reception by the workers of the Congress and his party at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad, on his arrival in the city after the decision to merge his party with the ruling party.
Chiranjeevi was received with much fanfare amidst beating of drums, and with huge garlands.
The waiting workers raised slogans in his support and beaming Congress workers extended heartfelt congratulations to their PRP counterparts, hailing the 'historic' merger.
However, the enthusiasm of the 'welcoming committee' did not hide the fact that the absence of 3 PRP MLAs from among their midst was jarring. The 15 other MLAs tried to make up for their colleagues' absence with their exuberance.
MLA Anil Kumar said that the Congress party would sweep in the 2014 general elections by using Chiranjeevi's charisma.
Another MLA B Satyananda Rao said that Chiranjeevi could achieve his party's main goals of achieving social justice by following the Congress' principles.
When the PRP MLAs were asked if they were eyeing their share of cabinet portfolios, they said they were ready to accept any berth. They did emphasise that they had agreed to a permanent union of the PRP with the Congress without any pre-conditions.
The PRP MLAs vowed that they would work in a coordinated manner with their Congress colleagues.