Date:07/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050760121000.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TUF to back BJP in Musheerabad

Party finalises 10 candidates, to announce four more names soon

HYDERABAD: The Telangana United Front has decided to support BJP nominee K. Laxman in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency and field its candidate T.V. Nityanandam for the Secunderabad seat.

Disclosing this to reporters here on Tuesday, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (Nationalistic) president A. Narendra said the front, comprising TRS(N), Telangana Sangharsh Samiti and Telangana Jana Parishad, had so far finalised candidates for 10 Assembly seats.

It would announce names for four more constituencies shortly. He said the front had sought BJP’s support and the latter promised to consider the request.

He said the TRS had bagged the Musheerabad seat in the last elections following support received from the Congress and the Left parties. “This time it was bound to be defeated.”

Asked if supporting the BJP was the first step towards his rejoining that party,

Mr. Narendra quipped: “Why do you think we’ll join the BJP just because we are supporting its candidate in one constituency.”

He said the front would not put up a candidate in Khairatabad.

Front’s objective

Mr. Narendra said the front was formed as the Telangana movement was currently in the hands of ‘opportunistic’ political leaders and ‘capitalist’ sections.

He faulted the TRS for not giving ticket to a person belonging to weaker sections in Dichipalli Assembly constituency.