'A Poisonous Tree'

Barely a week before the elections, fissures in Chiranjeevi's Praja RajyamParty in Andhra Pradesh are beginning to surface.

On Thursday, one of its founding members and spokesperson Parakala Prabhakarresigned from the party, terming it to have grown into a 'poisonous tree.' 

Addressing the media persons at the PRP office soon after submitting hisresignation, Prabhakar said he had played a vital role during the formation ofthe party but now he was disappointed as the party, he felt, was deviating fromthe ideals on which it was found. He reiterated that the PRP has become a'poisonous tree.'

There was a simmering discontent in the party over the distribution of tickets.Rumours were making the rounds in the political circles that the seniorfunctionaries of the PRP were taking money for tickets from the aspirants.Though Parakala Prabhakar did not openly say anything about money exchanginghands during ticket distribution, he was categorical that some of theallegations made against the senior functionaries in the party could be true. 

Another senior leader C Ramchandriah termed the resignation as unfortunate,but in the same breath said that it was not possible for the party to satisfyeverybody.

The reason for Parakala Prabhakar's resignation, party sources say, could behis anger over his candidates not being accommodated during ticket-distribution.

Dr K Nageshwar, Hyderabad-based political analyst said that Prabhakar'souster from the party would not make much a difference as he lacked a mass base,but it certainly lent credence to the allegations levelled against the seniorPRP functionaries and demoralise the local party cadre at this crucial juncture. 

Sources in the PRP maintain that the crisis in the party is not going to endsoon as more voices of dissension against the alleged 'dictatorial functioning'of the PRP general secretary and the brother-in-law Allu Aravind could be heardin times to come.