TRS rules out even alliance with Congress

In a severe setback to Congress in Telangana, TRS dashed its hopes of an alliance for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. "There will not be any electoral alliance with Congress. Let's see from tomorrow if TRS MLAs will join the Congress or the reverse will happen," Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao said addressing his party workers at the Telangana Bhavan here.

Indicating that the two-day negotiations by Congress secretary Digvijay Singh did not fructify, the TRS chief announced that his party will contest all assembly and parliament seats. "We will expose the Congress and show whether our leaders join Congress or Congress MLAs, ministers and MPs make a beeline to join us," he said .

As per latest reports, former home minister Sabita Indra Reddy and her son Karthik Reddy are all set to join TRS in a day or two. "Why should TRS leaders fight under Congress banner after their 13-year-long struggle has fructified and Telangana has become a reality, questioned Shravan Dasoji, a senior TRS leader.

Even as the Congressmen blamed TRS chief for going back on his words, the 60-year-old leader sakid TRS now had a unique responsibility to rebuild the region from the scratch as other than bifurcation, all advantage has been given to Seemandrha and not Telangana. "We would have merged had there been fair play by the Congress leaders. They want merger but keep picking up our MLAs and MPs. They want alliance but advise Telangana student groups and activists to join Congress instead of TRS and even offer seats," said Rao indicating how Jairam Ramesh and Digvijay Singh wanted Telangana JAC chairman Prof Kodandaram to be an MLA.

However, the state Congress leadership is keen to go alone. "The talks regarding TRS and Congress merger failed as KCR wanted assurance from Congress president that he would be the chief minister," says Telengana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah.