It looks like megastar-turned-politician K Chiranjeevi has learnt the tricks of the trade in politics. He has understood that he has to strike the iron when it is hot.

Apparently realizing that some Congress leaders are trying to pass the buck on him for the party’s debacle in the recent by-elections, Chiranjeevi has decided to strike back and remind the party leaders that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government is surviving at his mercy and if he is made the scapegoat, he has the capacity to pull down the government any moment.

That is why Chiranjeevi revived the Praja Rajyam Party ghost at the Ramachandrapuram meeting on Friday. All through his speech, he specifically mentioned the name of the erstwhile PRP, though it is no more in existence. He deliberately separated PRP from the Congress saying the party could win at least two seats in the by-elections only because of the PRP leaders and cadres and if they continued to be neglected, the Congress party has no future. He even went to the extent of saying that had he been given the power, he would have shown the difference.

In a way, Chiranjeevi appeared to be blackmailing the Congress high command. By seeking due share for the PRP leaders in the nominated posts and due recognition for the party MLAs, he gave a hint to the high command that he should be taken into the central cabinet. He sent a message that the erstwhile PRP legislators were still with him and if there is any injustice to him or them, he can withdraw from the Congress. What a strategy?