AP CM makes light of ''Grand Alliance'' moves

Hyderabad, Sep 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today made light of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party's attempts to woo the Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(Marxist), Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Bahujan Samaj Party to forge a ''Grand Alliance'' for the 2009 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Dr Reddy told his cabinet colleagues it was an attempt for political survival by the ''weak'' who were not in a position to face the ''strong'' ruling Congress, Information Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting here.

The Cabinet colleagues concurred with the Chief Minister there was no cause for worry as the Congress Government had won the confidence of the people through its ''creditable'' performance, he added.

Meanwhile, talking to mediapersons here, Praja Rajyam Party Founder Chiranjeevi said his party felt that electoral understanding for the 2009 elections was ''inevitable''. He, however, ruled out his party joining the ''Grand Alliance.'' CPI State Secretary K Narayana, who had one-to-one meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi and Telangana Rashtra Samiti President K Chandrasekar Rao earlier, briefed about his talks to CPI(M) counterpart B V Ragavulu.

The CPI state unit would submit its report to the party high command about the meetings and abide by its decision, Mr Narayana told mediapersons.

UNI SM VA GM ND1816