Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TRS keen to cobble up alliance

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is literally riding on two horses to ensure the defeat of Congress in the next elections.

In the last 12 days of his stay in New Delhi, the TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao has met leaders of all parties outside the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to do his bit in cobbling together a common front to take on the Congress.

Though his primary focus was a realignment of forces in the State, he has also considered the likely impact at the national level.

He interacted with leaders of parties representing ideologically opposite views ranging from L.K. Advani to Prakash Karat.

Sources said Mr. Rao was least interested in a tie-up with the BJP given the party’s communal colour and its strength in the State. By calling on Mr. Advani, he tried to reassure the BJP that the TRS would support it if the latter was in a position to form the government at the Centre after the next elections.

He was forced to side with the Left as well as the UNPA only to ensure the defeat the Congress, the sources said.

Mr. Rao who has displayed a great unease with the Congress in the last two years for going back on the promise of granting statehood to Telangana has, of late, tried to get close to the Telugu Desam. He indicated his willingness to join hands with the TDP while the leaders of the latter were guarded in accepting the offer.

In fact, the CPI has publicly stated that Mr. Rao could not be trusted as he was capable of changing his stand anytime.

Given the reservations of TDP and CPI, whether TRS will finally be part of UNPA’s constituents—TDP, CPI, CPI (M) and BSP—is being widely debated. TRS MLA T. Harish Rao says the TRS is also adopting a wait and watch policy.

It will take a final decision as the situation unfolds in the run up to polls.

He also gave importance to film star Chiranjeevi’s proposed entry into politics.

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