Telangana elections: Former rivals Rahul Gandhi and Chandrababu Naidu to canvass together for grand alliance

Rahul and Chandrababu have pulled off quite a coup by joining hands for the Telangana Assembly polls, putting aside their 36-year rivalry, to take on a common foe in TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao. 
Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu addresses the media outside his residence at Tughlak Road in New Delhi. (File|PTI)
Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu addresses the media outside his residence at Tughlak Road in New Delhi. (File|PTI)

HYDERABAD: It’s a new dawn for Telugu politics. For the first time, AICC president Rahul Gandhi and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, two political giants will jointly canvass for the Prajakutami (People’s Front) on Wednesday. The two leaders have been bitter enemies in the past. In fact, the Telugu Desam Party was founded by Naidu’s father-in-law NT Rama Rao on an anti-Congress agenda. 

Rahul and Chandrababu have pulled off quite a coup by joining hands for the Telangana Assembly polls, putting aside their 36-year rivalry, to take on a common foe in TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao. 

The joint campaign will kick off with a public meeting in Kosgi in Mahabubnagar district at 12 PM.

Incidentally, Kosgi is a part of the Kodangal constituency, which was represented by TPCC working president Revanth Reddy.

Reddy is a rather touchy subject for TDP in Telangana - he was their most visible and famous leader until he chose to abandon ship and join Congress. Even Reddy perhaps did not imagine a future when TDP and Congress would ally with each other.

Speaking to Express, Telangana TDP president said that bad blood between the two parties was now water under the bridge. “Both leaders have decided to set aside their difference and come together against TRS.

Though there was some apprehension in the beginning, the bond between Congress and TDP has been welcomed by all. Now, even TRS chief KCR is worried about defeat,” he said.

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