Chiranjeevi all set to make it to Rajya Sabha

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'Megastar' Chiranjeevi is likely get elevated soon - from a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly to the Rajya Sabha.

His candidature is almost certain for one of the four seats that the ruling Congress can win in the biennial elections to the Upper House of Parliament from the state, slated for March 30.

The Congress, as part of his Praja Rajyam Party's merger deal last year, promised to induct Chiranjeevi into the Union Cabinet by nominating him to Rajya Sabha. In all, six seats will fall vacant in April with the retirement of four Congress members and one each of CPI and TDP.

Going by the current strength in the Assembly, the Congress can win four and the TDP two seats. There is intense competition in the Congress for the other three seats with some heavyweights lobbying hard for a chance.

Former Union Minister of State Dasari Narayana Rao, who is among the four retiring members, is seeking re-election though he hasn't openly expressed it so far.

Another former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary, currently an official spokesperson of Congress, is using her clout in New Delhi to make it to Rajya Sabha while Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to be pushing the case of industrialist G. V. Krishna Reddy, head of GVK group.

Telangana protagonist K. Keshava Rao, who too will retire in April, is desperately trying for a second term. He has been maintaining a tacit silence, of late, on the statehood issue to remain in the good books of the party high command.

But, even the known Telangana supporters in the party as well as the Chief Minister are said to be opposing Keshava Rao's re-nomination.