Chiru may plump for party hoppers

Nellore: Despite claiming that there would be no place for party-hoppers, it appears that mega star Chiranjeevi’s yet-tobe-launched party is eyeing Congress dissidents and professionals from NGOs in Potti Sriramulu Nellore district. According to a key aide of Chiranjeevi here, a prominent Congress leader in the district has expressed his willingness to join the new party. “He also said that he is ready to offer Rs 50 crore to the party fund and bear the expenditure of 10 other candidates towards election expenditure,” the aide said. But, sources said the leader had demanded a cabinet berth if the matinee idol came to power. It is learnt that one section of leaders in the Congress are cut up with other leaders for having cornered all the contracts in the implementation of many government welfare schemes. “The green-eyed leaders are looking out for another chance to continue in the political fray as they think they are given a short shrift by Y S Rajasekhara Reddy,” a party leader said. An analyst said: “They (Congress men) don’t respect the ‘supremacy’ of one section of the party and when Chiranjeevi is willing to take them, they are more than happy to take the plunge,” he said. Sources said the disgruntled leaders of the Congress already approached the poll managers in Chiranjeevi’s new party. But, the coterie of Chiru, it is learnt, advised them to be patient and work for the party, not expecting any position immediately. A senior head of an NGO based at Gudur has joined Chiru’s force and has been looking after the minority cell affairs. Sources said many people associated with NGOs may join the matinee idol’s party. “They may announce their decision in the first week of August,” the source said.