Hyderabad, Feb. 9: The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, who is all set to merge his party with the Congress, on Wednesday took his MLAs and senior leaders for a tete-a-tete with the two top leaders of the ruling party.

In the morning he and his colleagues met the PCC president, Mr D. Srinivas, at his residence and had a friendly chat for 20 minutes. Later, Mr Chiranjeevi had a private talk with him for 30 minutes.

Emerging from the meeting, the Praja Rajyam chief said the merger will take one month and will be formalised in a massive public meeting some time after that.

He added that the place and date of the public meeting were not decided but said it was to be attended by the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi and her son, Mr Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Chiranjeevi, who was accompanied by the PCC chief, had a few embarrassing moments when reporters quizzed him about his statement made in Delhi couple of days ago on describing the 2004-09 YSR dispensation as the most corrupt government in the country.

However, Mr Srinivas, came to his rescue. “He only meant that when a government implements lot of schemes there will be lapses here and there,” said the PCC chief. “And he wanted to suggest rectification of those.”

However, with mediapersons raising more questions, Chiranjeevi left the spot.

Later in the evening he took his contingent to meet the Chief Minister at the Camp Office and introduced his fellow leaders.

While thanking them for joining the Congress, Mr Kiran Reddy has told them once they joined the Congress they would be treated on par with other party MLAs in all respects. “I have already instructed all officials to cooperate with you all,” said the CM.

After the exchange of pleasantries, the CM and Chiranjeevi had a closed-door meeting.