Congress, TRS in back channel talks?

• Cong hopes for some understanding, if not tie-up
• It will help offset the impact of TDP-BJP alliance
• Hence, the delay in announcing list of candidates

Hyderabad: Keeping in view the formalisation of pre-poll tie up between BJP and TDP, the AICC is understood to have decided to make counter moves, so that it can contain any possible damage in the ensuing elections. As part of this move, the party high command is said to have opened back channel talks with TRS once again.

This is one of the reasons why the party withdrew the list of 110 candidates even as it was being announced on Saturday night. Sources said top leaders including Ahmed Patel, the political advisor to Sonia Gandhi, are understood to have spoken to K Keshav Rao. The party wants that if not a formal tie-up or seat-sharing, they should have some informal understanding on certain seats which would be mutually advantageous. In view of this, the list has been held back so that it would be possible for seat adjustment. A final decision on the issue is likely to be taken on Monday.