Telangana issue: KC Rao predicts mid-term polls after Srikrishna report

Hours before Srikrishna Committee submits its report on the feasibility of a separate Telangana state, K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR), chief of separatist Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), said on Wednesday both Andhra Pradesh,  of which Telangana is to be carved out, and the Centre would soon face polls.

Addressing a TRS politburo meeting, KCR said, “I think the government will collapse in January 2011. TRS cadres should prepare for a mid-term poll.”

According to Rao, Congress would not recover from the 2G spectrum scam.

According to reports, KCR went a step ahead to say that former Congress leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy would sweep Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of the state, whereas TRS would win at least 100 of the 117 seats in Telangana.

Sources said Rao was anticipating a major revolt in state Congress, with at least 70 MLAs crossing the floor in favour of Jagan and forcing a mid-term poll. The predictions sparked speculation of an alliance between TRS and Jagan’s yet-to-be-named party.

Meanwhile, political parties and various joint action committees are eagerly awaiting the Srikrishna committee report. The report is expected to be submitted to the home ministry on Friday.

Congress, which rules Andhra Pradesh, is in a dilemma and would face a crisis if the committee rejected the Telangana demand.  “MPs and MLAs of Congress would not hesitate to quit and join the movement in case the report does not favour creation of Telangana,” a Telangana Congress leader said.

The state has beefed up security in view of the volatile situation and issued guidelines to the media to exercise control in reporting after the report is submitted.