The Grand Alliance takes shape, finally

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: After dilly-dallying for 10 days and keeping everyone guessing, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti finally joined the “Grand Alliance” giving it full shape in Andhra Pradesh.
The Grand Alliance now comprises the Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India and Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao drove to TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu’s residence to convey his party’s decision to join the Grand Alliance.
“We are joining the Grand Alliance to defeat the ruling Congress party and rid the state of its atrocious and corrupt administration. We shall soon organize a ‘maha sabha’ (grand public meeting) to announce other details related to the alliance,” Chandrasekhar Rao said after his brief meeting with Chandrababu.
“Our main objective is to trounce the Congress party that has grossly deceived the people of Telangana on the promise of creating a separate state. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, in particular, had to be sent home to rid the state of the evil administration,” he pointed out.
Welcoming the TRS’ decision, the TDP chief termed it a “historic step” and hoped the “Telugu people” would appreciate the “Grand Alliance” whole-heartedly and bless it in the ensuing elections.
The two leaders expressed confidence that the Grand Alliance would win 100 seats in Telangana region and an aggregate of over 200 seats in Andhra Pradesh. “The Congress will be deeply buried in the April\May elections,” they said.
Meanwhile, TDP sources indicated that the TDP finally agreed to concede nine Lok Sabha and 46 Assembly seats to the TRS as part of the seat-sharing. The TRS, in fact, demanded that it be given 10 Lok Sabha and it was the main reason that caused a stalemate in the Grand Alliance taking full shape on January 21.
After a series of talks between the two parties and widespread consultations within the TRS, the finally tally was agreed upon, the sources added.