BJP, TRS tie-up on the cards
By Devesh Kumar, TNN |
Highlights
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to step up their Telangana rhetoric and further their electoral prospects in the region, the BJP and the TRS have got down to talks to stitch up an alliance.
Former Union minister A Narendra, an old RSS hand who���s also a confidant of TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao, is said to be playing a crucial role in the negotiations.
While the TRS reaffirmed its position as the most powerful voice in the region by retaining the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat by a huge margin in the recent by-election, the BJP is trying to make up for its flip-flop on the issue by making an aggressive pitch for a separate Telangana state.
Once regarded as the most formidable player in the constituencies falling in the Telangana region, the BJP blew away its chances by jettisoning the cause after hitching its bandwagon to the Telugu Desam Party in 1998. It, consequently, drew a blank in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, while the TRS, contesting in alliance with the Congress, bagged five seats ��� Karimnagar, Medak, Adilabad, Warangal and Hanamkonda. It also won 26 of the 54 seats it contested in the Assembly polls held simultaneously.
The TRS, however, pulled out of the UPA in September last, accusing the Manmohan Singh government and the Congress of failing to keep their word on Telangana. Mr Chandrasekhara Rao quit his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat almost immediately, which necessitated the by-election.
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The BJP, in contrast, was pushed to the fourth spot, with its candidate, former Union minister Vidyasagar Rao polling a meagre 21,144 votes. Its fast-depleting support base in the region forced the BJP leadership to sit up and take note of the trend. It responded to the situation by sending friendly overtures to the TRS. The alliance between the two parties, if and when it���s finalised, is certain to create jitters in the Congress and TDP camps.Download
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