Praja Rajyam opts for rising sun sign

Hyderabad

June 30: The Praja Rajyam has requested the Election Commission to allocate the rising sun as the new symbol for the party. Majority of the party leaders agreed to the new symbol as the party did not want to contest the forthcoming elections, including the GHMC polls, with the “unlucky” rail engine symbol.

The Praja Rajyam said the party would consider the “umbrella” symbol if the rising sun is not allotted on technical grounds. The rising sun symbol is already allotted to the DMK, in Tamil Nadu. The DMK had reportedly objected to the proposal when Mr Chiranjeevi launched his party in Tirupati and used the rising sun as its symbol.

The PR is hopeful of getting the symbol since the PR and the DMK contest in different states. According to party sources, the Election Commission has the power to allocate the same symbol if the regional parties function in different states. For example, the Cycle is a symbol for both the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh and the Samajwadi party in Uttar Pradesh.

“We want to contest the elections with a new symbol. I hope the Election Commission will consider our request for the rising sun since the PR was recognised as a regional party polling 19 per cent of the votes in the general elections,” Mr Chiranjeevi said. The PR has decided to launch an agitation against co-operative farming and construction of Babli project in Maharashtra. The party has asked the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to intervene in the issue to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh.

“The state government has failed to handle the issue properly. That is why Maharashtra has violated rules and constructed several projects,” Mr Chiranjeevi said.

The party extended moral support to the agitation of the Telugu Desam MLA, Mr Rama Rao, who is seeking withdrawal of CID inquiry on alleged charges of rape and murder of a college student.