Chennai jolt for KCR

Hyderabad: The efforts of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to enlist the support of DMK leader M K Stalin did not go off on the expected lines.

While the TRS sources claimed that during the hour-long meeting with Stalin, a tacit political understanding has been arrived between the two leaders and that both would play a key role at the Centre in formation of the government after the results were announced, Stalin -- a Congress ally who in the past twice suggested the name of Rahul Gandhi for the post of the Prime Minister -- had instead, told him to support the Congress.

Sources said KCR explained to the DMK leader about his proposed Federal Front and the possibility of the front emerging as an alternative to BJP-led NDA and UPA if May 23 throws up fractured results at the national level.

KCR told Stalin that in such an eventuality which appears to be more a reality, the regional parties will have a major role to play and said that they should join hands so that the states can get benefitted from the Centre in all respects.

Stalin explained his party's alliance with Congress and the political compulsions they have in extending support to the KCR's front.

However, he said DMK is also of strong opinion that states should get more powers and his party would support KCR's fight on this issue.

The possibility of KCR supporting Congress-led UPA is also learnt to have come up for discussion between the two leaders. However, KCR was said to be non-committal on this issue.

After the hour-long meeting, KCR left without speaking to the media.

Later, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai tweeted: "Our leader @mkstalin persuades Telangana CM KCR to support the Congress alliance in a crucial meeting today! #Elections2019 State leaders will be the heroes after #23May2019".