TRS cosying up to rival TDP for 2019 poll tie-up?

​Hyderabad: In what is being seen as the first sign of once bitter rivals – TRS and TDP – coming together, the pink party waved an olive branch, apparently realising that the TDP still had roots in Telangana and any electoral understating at a future date would be to its advantage.

Though the TDP is down in Telangana, its cadres in a majority of the constituencies in the state are still intact. A ballpark figure puts the TDP’s strength at six to seven per cent of the electorate.

On Monday, the TRS took a crucial decision not to obstruct the no-confidence motion for which the TDP had moved a notice. The TRS MPs, after a meeting with their supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, said that they would not go into the well and stall the proceedings when the notice is expected to be taken up. “We will however stand at our respective seats and voice our protests in support of our demands,” a TRS MP said.

The TRS MPs have been staging protests by holding placards in the well in the Lok Sabha resulting in the Speaker adjourning the House without taking up no-confidence motion. The TRS had faced criticism from the Telugu Desam and others that it was deliberately trying to save the NDA government which caused embarrassment since the TRS has been working to evolve anti-Congress and anti-BJP federal front. 

According to sources, the Chief Minister has asked the MPs to take part in the discussion and put forward the demands of the party if the no-confidence motion is taken up. It is learnt that the Chief Minister has asked them to have discussions again when voting takes place on the no-confidence motion. Sources said that the TRS leaders have decided not to remain as villains to the people of Andhra Pradesh by coming in the way of their struggle. 

“The Telugu Desam has been fighting for a cause and TRS has nothing to lose and only to gain if we support their cause. Though the TDP’s strength is limited in terms of seats in Telangana, its leaders feel that still there is a support base of at least six to seven per cent and this will help the TRS during the next elections,” said a senior TRS leader.  

Nizamabad MP and daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, K Kavitha said the Centre should fulfil whatever it has promised to Andhra Pradesh whether it is special status or package. However, the TRS leader took exception to the Andhra Pradesh leaders describing the division as ‘un-scientific’. 

“We are supporting you (Andhra Pradesh). We are saying two states should develop but the leaders from Andhra are making insinuations against us. We respect the people of Andhra Pradesh but behaviour of the leaders is not very appropriate,” said Kavitha. 

The TRS MP also lashed out at the BJP government for ignoring the protest of the TRS. She said the TRS has been staging protests since the first day of Parliament. TRSPP leader K Keshav Rao said that it was not proper to say that the TRS was responsible for the adjournment of the Lok Sabha. 

“TRS is not trying to stop the no-confidence motion of the TDP. There is no need for us to save the BJP. We know how to take forward our protest. We will take up our issues without going into the well and we will take part in the discussion,” said Keshav Rao.  

TRS leader in the Lok Sabha A P Jitender Reddy said it is not proper to target the TRS for the din in the House. The government passed the finance bill though there was din in the House, he said.