WHAT NEXT: Former Transport Minister S. Santosh Reddy, who was suspended from the TRS, talking to his well-wishers in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: At the end of a day of intense backroom activity on Tuesday, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is heading for a political crisis with partymen divided on the basis of their loyalty to president K. Chandrasekhara Rao. But, some party seniors are making hectic efforts to avoid a possible split in the party.

Suspended TRS leader S. Santosh Reddy gained the sympathy if not the outright support of at least five party MLAs who described the disciplinary action against him as unfortunate and hasty.

They are Jayaprakash Reddy, Kasipeta Lingaiah, Pratap Reddy, Mandada Satyanarayana Reddy and Dugyala Srinivasa Rao.

In fact, Mr. Santosh Reddy has become a rallying point for all those partymen unhappy with Mr. Rao's leadership.

Except for issuing hard-hitting statements against one another, neither camp made any significant political move to precipitate matters further. In these circumstances, the situation in the party is very fluid.

In the event of Mr. Santosh Reddy being able to garner substantial support, several MLAs might jump over to his camp and encourage him to start a parallel Telangana outfit.

If he fails in these efforts, the option of joining the Congress at a later stage is open to him.

Narendra arrives

Amid reports of his differences with Mr. Rao, Union Minister A. Narendra arrived here from New Delhi this afternoon. He was received at the airport by party MLAs -- N. Narasimha Reddy and V. Lakshmikanth Rao -- who escorted him straight to the residence of Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao.

Mr. Narendra was closeted with his party president till late in the evening but it was not known whether he was mediating or trying to thrash out his own differences with Mr. Rao.

Meanwhile, supporters kept pouring in at Mr. Santosh Reddy's residence at Banjara Hills. They include Innaih, one of the founder-members of TRS who was expelled, and former MLAs, D. Chinna Malliah, and G. Mrutyanjayam.

Mr. Santosh Reddy disclosed to reporters that some of the MLAs who had criticised his suspension were in contact with him.

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