Former Union minister P Shiv Shankar on Saturday joined the Praja Rajyam Party of Chiranjeevi.

Soon after his joining, Shiv Shankar was made the head of Praja Rajyam's legal cell as well as the election manifesto committee.

"It's a matter of privilege for us to have a leader of Shiv Shanker's stature with us. He brings in enormous political experience which will guide us in the right direction," Chiranjeevi said while welcoming Shiv Shanker into the party.

Shiv Shanker had served as Governor of Kerala.

He was a close associate of Indira Gandhi and served as a minister in her cabinet. He also was a member of the cabinets under Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao.

But he left the Congress in 2004 and stayed away from active politics.

His son Vinay Kumar is a core committee member of the Praja Rajyam Party.