Hyderabad, May 12 (Express India):  PRP chief Chiranjeevi is learnt to have  got enough hints that he would be taken into the Central cabinet as state minister with independent charge in return for merging his party with the Congress.

Chiranjeevi is understood to have been given the assurance at his meetings with Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel and Union minister and AP Congress affairs in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad at Delhi on Wednesday.

Chiranjeevi reportedly discussed with them about inviting Sonia Gandhi to the meeting to be organised soon to formalise the merger of his party with the Congress.

According to sources, the PRP chief also told them that he wants at least three of his MLAs to be  inducted into the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet.

Since Sonia Gandhi was not in Delhi, Chiranjeevi could not meet her. He is expected to make another trip to Delhi to discuss what he expects from the Congress.

Though Chiranjeevi has been assured of a berth in the Cabinet, it may not happen in the next cabinet reshuffle which is expected in about a week’s time. According to sources in the Congress, the PRP chief would be suitably rewarded at a later date.