HYDERABAD: TJS Chief Kodandaram on Friday maintained that his party wished for at least 15 seats as part of the seat-sharing agreement among grand alliance parties. Kodandaram’s statements come only a day after sources claimed seat-sharing agreement between grand alliance parties had reached a conclusion.
After a meeting with AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Friday, Kodandaram told the press that his party wished to contest from 17 seats but was ready to settle for 15. It may be recalled that TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy had announced on Thursday that his party would contest from 95 seats, TDP from 14, leaving only 10 seats to the other parties - CPI, TJS and MBT.
“All through the meeting, we discussed about the need for an ideologically strong Opposition to TRS. Seat sharing never came up for discussion. However, we maintain that we want to contest from 17 seats, but we are willing to settle for 15. We want Congress to give us constituencies that it does not have a strong foothold in,” the TJS chief told media persons, driving a hard bargain. Sources within TJS say that the party is seeking Yellareddy, Malkajgiri, Miryalguda, Ramagundam and Tandur, among other constituencies.
However, Kodandaram also said, “The common good of grand alliance is more important than the interests of individual leaders and parties. We have asked Rahul Gandhi to expedite discussions about the common minimum programme and seat sharing, so that we don’t lose momentum before going to polls. Telangana people can now hope thanks to the grand alliance. The alliance was formed to bring in a change and it is appearing very promising now.”
Not wanting to go the Anna Hazare way
Professor M Kodandaram is quite a famous figure in the State for his role in the Telangana movement as TJAC chief. After staying out of politics for a long time, he formed the Telangana Jana Samithi. It is reported that he was instrumental in the formation of a united ‘anti-TRS’ grand alliance, which has become quite a formidable threat to the ruling party.
While Kodandaram has consistently cited ideological reasons and the necessity for a united opposition to TRS, he has also been steadfast with his demand for a relatively large number of seats. He has been bargaining with seasoned politicians in Congress during seat sharing discussions. It is not clear whether Kodanaram will contest in the polls or whether he would limit himself to campaigning for grand alliance candidates.
However, he has made it clear that he would like to play a major role in active politics. Perhaps the TJS chief does not wish for the irrelevance of activist Anna Hazare who had led a massive anti-corruption movement in 2013 and was later overshadowed by his mentee Avind Kejriwal who went on to become Chief Minister of Delhi.
Harish accuses Naidu, Kodandaram of pledging people’s respect
TRS leader T Harish Rao blasted TDP chief and AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu and TJS chief Kodandaram, accusing them of pledging self-respect of Telugu people and Telangana people respectively in Delhi. “We will not allow Delhi’s control over Telangana. AP CM Naidu knelt down before AICC president Rahul Gandhi. Voting for grand alliance is like inviting crisis in the State,” he said.
Congress is humiliating us, says CPI State secy
While TJS has made it clear that it is determined to sail with Grand alliance, another ally CPI is sending signals to Congress that it has kept its options open. The party is upset with rumours of getting only three seats. Speaking to Express, CPI State secretary Chada Venkat Reddy said that CPI would announce its decision about staying in the alliance after a meeting on Sunday. “CPI came forward to form an alliance and has sacrificed its interests to build an alternative to TRS. But Congress is humiliating us by leaking to the press that it would give us only three seats. The cadre are of the opinion that it is better to go alone. We can give good fights at 25 to 30 seats if we fight alone,” he said.