HYDERABAD: Sharply denting the credibility of Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam, its most visible intellectual face and spokesman, Parakala Prabhakar, quit the party on Thursday, describing it as a ‘‘poisonous tree’’ and an ‘‘undesirable force’’ that should not exist in the political sphere.
His resignation unfolded on expected lines but the parting shots of the PRP general secretary, analysts believe, could hurt the prospects of the party in which educated sections had shown considerable interest at the time of its formation in August last year.
Interestingly, Prabhakar has chosen the same dais in the party office from where he had addressed numerous press conferences as the party spokesman -- with huge photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Ambedkar and Mother Teresa in the background -- to castigate the PRP leadership. He was not abusive but was caustic. There were no direct references to individuals including Chiranjeevi or his brother-in-law Allu Aravind but the inferences were obvious.
Allu Aravind reportedly went to the residence of Prabhakar this morning in a last-minute desperate attempt to pacify him but the latter refused to see him. Soon after, Prabhakar drove to the party office, spoke to the media and later, left his resignation letter at the reception there. Two more active functionaries of the party at the district-level -- its Vijayawada urban convenor B Bhava Kumar and Rajahmundry district joint convenor Bommana Raj Kumar also resigned, accusing the party leadership of not holding democratic consultations. ‘‘I do not think there is honesty in whatever is said or done in this party. Lakhs of youth and women genuinely believed that PRP will bring about a refreshingly new culture to politics.
They have all been betrayed. I no longer want to be a party to the manner in which the cadre and the people at large are being cheated,’’ Prabhakar said.
Pointing out the fact that he had come from a family of freedom fighters who strove for the good of the society, Prabhakar said it was with the same intention that people like him had joined PRP and gave it their best. ‘‘I now believe that the purpose behind launching PRP was not to bring about social justice or cleanse politics of the malaise that exists,’’ he remarked.
Likening PRP to a company, which looks for profits, Prabhakar said he was inclined to believe that factors other than merit (implying money) had played a role at every step the leadership took, including selection of candidates.
‘‘I do not know why the leadership has chosen to create false hopes.
But, I feel I have a responsility to tell the people that this party does not have people’s welfare at its heart. I do not have the capacity to uproot this poisonous tree. But, I thought quitting the party is the only way to clear myself of the sin I have committed,’’ Prabhakar said.
A feeble attempt was made by some functionaries to disrupt the press conference but Prabhakar went ahead.