TDP-Congress pact in Telangana?

Close on the heels of former Speaker from the Congress Suresh Reddy shifting loyalty to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Grand Old Party has decided to speed up talks with its archrival the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for a possible alliance.

TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) recently dissolved the Assembly and is seeking an early election.

TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be in Hyderabad on Saturday to address the Telangana TDP’s general body meeting to discuss issues related to the upcoming elections.

Sources in the Congress say that efforts are on to arrange a meeting between Naidu and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Capt Uttam Kumar Reddy, to pave the way for an alliance.

The Congress leaders, however, understand that the arrangement, if any, will be limited to Telangana and not Andhra Pradesh (AP). The Congress’s fortunes nosedived in AP, following the division of the state.

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'Ready for adjustments'

Capt Reddy has made it clear that the party is willing to work with the Opposition, including the TDP. Indications are that the party is willing to give 29 seats to others and contest in the remaining 90 seats.

A committee with Capt Reddy, AICC in-charge R C Khuntia, Council Floor Leader Shabbir Ali and working president Bhatti Vikramarka has been constituted to hold talks with the TDP, CPI and Prof Kodandaram’s Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).

“We are ready for talks with any political outfit other than the TRS and the BJP. All organisations, particularly students, women and employees, must join together to teach the TRS a lesson,” Capt Reddy said while addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan.

Modi’s new friend

Andhra Pradesh IT minister and Naidu’s son N Lokesh told the media in Amaravati that the nexus between the BJP and the TRS has become clear.

Lokesh says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes only Rao in the entire south of India. “How come the Telangana Zonal reservation issue was cleared by PM Modi in no time and KCR’s son was given appointment with PM but refused audience to even chief ministers?” Lokesh asked.

He opined that the whole election process has been speeded up to benefit KCR and wondered how a caretaker chief minister (KCR) could announce the election schedule.