Former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijay Sai Reddy on Wednesday offered prayers at the temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, seeking the blessings of the presiding deity for the launch of a new political party in the State.

Speaking to the media later, he said the objective behind floating a new party was to provide a platform to articulate the concerns and aspirations of the people in both Parliament and the State Legislature.

“I have also prayed for adequate rains in the State and across the country to mitigate the adverse impact of El Nino. I have prayed to the Lord to bless the country and ensure that it remains free from any kind of food scarcity,” he said.

Maintaining that there was no space for any political discourse in Tirumala, Mr. Reddy said he would unveil his future course of action in Vijayawada later this month.