TDP-BJP truck: Fight hots up in Telangana

 With the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) returning to the NDA, Telangana is likely to witness a triangular fight.

The Congress, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the TDP-BJP combine will fight it out in the ensuing Assembly and general elections.

Analysts said the TDP-BJP alliance will give the Congress and the TRS a run for their money. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu’s backward class card combined with the contribution of the BJP may give the party a shot in the army.

“It is like the TDP fighting with a Modi mask in the hinterland of Telangana, where it is still considered as a backstabber post Naidu’s U-turn after Chidambaram’s positive announcement about Telangana,” says a senior analyst.

Failure on the part of the Congress, the TRS and the CPI to forge a formidable alliance could be a historical blunder, even though the challenge posed by the TDP-BJP alliance looks puny at this moment, CPI state secretary K Narayana said. “But that is now ruled out. The Congress and the TRS have declared candidates for a majority of seats in Telangana. But no one can rule out a post-poll alliance after a hung assembly in Telangana,” said Congress leader from Telangana.

People of Telangana, however, are in the grip of a “moral dilemma”. They have to choose between a party that has “given” Telangana and a party that has “fought for” it. It will not be a surprise if the results on May 16 throw up a hung Assembly in Telangana, which is set to acquire statehood on June 2.

Meanwhile, the dissent within the TDP has cost the party dearly. TDP politburo member and Editor of Siasat, Zahid Ali Khan on Monday resigned from the party to protest its electoral alliance with the BJP.

In his resignation letter, Khan said the alliance with the BJP amounts to strengthening the communal forces.

TDP’s Medak MLA Mainampally Hanumantha Rao also resigned from the party expressing displeasure over allotment of Malkajgiri seat to BJP. Talking to reporters after calling on Naidu at his residence, Rao said Naidu went on his promise of giving him ticket from Malkajgiri seat and said he will contest as an independent candidate.