Is the TDP looking forward to working with TRS in the Telangana region for the 2014 general elections? TDP leaders say they are willing to work with TRS or any anti-Congress party.
Now that the ties between TRS and Congress appear to have been broken over the T issue, the TDP is waving the olive branch to the pink party, which has been its bitter critic for years.
TDP leaders are trying to use the on-going elections to primary agriculture cooperative societies in the region for a pact with TRS.
They are ready to support TRS candidates in the second phase of elections scheduled for Feb 4, they say.
After the then Union home minister P Chidambaram’s promise on Telangana in 2009 and the subsequent volte-face, the TRS targeted the TDP, accusing it of engineering a resignations drama by Seemandhra leaders.
With the TDP lossing deposits in all the byelections held after 2009 in the region, there was fear among TDP workers that the party was being wiped out in Telangana and that they had no future in the yellow party.
But the TDP’s prospects started improving in the region with party chief Chandrababu Naidu going on the Vastunna Meekosam padayatra in Telananga region as well.
He made it clear repeatedly that he was not against Telangana state.
In the recent Parakala by elections, the TDP polled as many as 30,000 votes, taking everyone by surprise.
In the process, it spoiled the chances of YSRC leader K Surekha, who lost narrowly to TRS candidate by a margin of 1,500 votes.
After entering Coastal Andhra as a part of his yatra, Naidu did not speak against Telangana and also controlled his party leaders who were unhappy over his utterances that the TDP was not against the T state.
TDP Telangana Forum convener and MLA E Dayakar Rao, who has impressed upon the TDP president in 2009 in favour of an alliance with TRS, is again trying to renew the alliance.
The TDP is ready to support TRS in the ongoing cooperative elections, he said.
Addressing a press conference in Warangal district, Dayakar Rao said the Congress is again trying to cheat the T people.
The TDP wants to finish the Congress in the region and with that goal they want to extend support to TRS in the cooperative elections.
The party would review the situation and the leadership would take the necessary decision, he said.