Congress becomes a loner in Andhra Pradesh

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh and the former's reported pledge to support the BJP-led National Democractic Alliance at the Centre has caused some anxiety in the Telugu Desam Party which has been trying to forge a "Grand Alliance" with the Left and the TRS in Andhra Pradesh.The sudden shift in TRS' stance, after having supported the United National Progressive Alliance on the trust vote in Lok Sabha last week, has caught the TDP in a fix though the party would still like to consider joining hands with the TRS to consolidate its position in the Telangana region.The TDP has been dropping enough hints that it would indeed like to align with the TRS by reiterating that it was "not against" Telangana. Opposition parties, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the state have been seeking to forge the so-called Grand Alliance with the sole objective of dislodging the Congress from power -- much the same way the parties came together in 2004 to dethrone the Chandrababu Naidu government. Rather than "ideology," it is a "common cause" (of defeating the Congress) that is bringing the opposition forces together. "Was there any ideological bond between the Congress, Left and TRS in 2004? It is no more a question of ideology but some common factors that bind us," a senior Left leader pointed out.Interestingly, the ruling party which has been reduced to a loner in state politics, too is trying to re-establish its old links with the Left parties to scuttle the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party's plans. The Congress is jittery over the impact the grand alliance would cause as a unified opposition could become a very formidable force and mar its chances of retaining power.
The CPI, on its part, is desperately looking towards Chiranjeevi while the CPM will be part of the grand alliance as things stand now."The question of our re-aligning with the Congress doesn't arise as our national congress has taken a clear stand on the issue," CPM state secretariat member Y Venkateswara Rao asserted.The TDP wants to align with the Left parties and also the Telangana Rashtra Samiti by keeping the BJP aside. The Bahujan Samaj Party, which of course does not have much strength in the state, too may become part of the TDP-Left-TRS alliance going by the developments at the national level. Significantly, the TDP is also leaving open the option of seeking support of film star Chiranjeevi in the event of a "hung" Assembly next year. This statement by party spokesman Kodela Siva Prasada Rao only exposed the insecurity in the TDP camp over the impact of Chiranjeevi's future party, political observers say. TDP's indication of a possible "post-poll" alliance with the Chiranjeevi party is being viewed in the context of Devender Goud's Nava Telangana Praja Party planning a "pre-poll" tie-up with the star. Goud has asserted that he would not join hands either with the TRS or the TDP but left the option of joining hands with Chiru open.