Chiranjeevi met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence here on Saturday and the latter requested him to support the Congress candidates for the elections to the Upper House.

However, Congress sources said the cine star and the Congress chief agreed to support each other not only in the coming polls but in future as well. Chiranjeevi told her that his party –which has 18 MLAs- will give issue-based support to the K Rosaiah government of the Congress party in the state.

The immediate reason for the understanding with the PRP is that the Congress, facing near-revolt by Jaganmohan Reddy, son of the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, wants to avoid a contest in the RS polls. It fears that factionalism will rear its head and upset calculations of the party in the polls if there is contest. The Congress with 154 members, is in a position to win four seats in the Assembly, the full strength of which is 294. The PRP has put up a candidate but is likely to withdraw.

Congress leaders say the high command was looking at the PRP as a possible ally if Jagan Reddy chooses to break off and form a party of his own. Speaking to reporters before meeting the Congress President, Chiranjeevi ruled out merging his party with the Congress, saying the PRP was functioning as a constructive opposition in the state. It is quite possible that the PRP may debut in Legislative Council with the Congress if it now supports the national party in the RS polls.

“Congress President Sonia Gandhi requested me to withdraw our candidate from the Rajya Sabha polls. I told her that I will discuss the issue among party leaders and get back in two days,” he told reporters.