HYDERABAD: A ‘Grand Alliance’ has finally taken shape in State politics with the sole aim of defeating the Congress in the next elections. The TDP, TRS, CPM and CPI are part of the alliance.
Leaders of the four parties today formally decided to work together in the elections. A public announcement on the alliance will, however, be made at the TRS office here on Jan 21 when TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao will start a ‘viswa santi yagam’.
Leaders of all the four parties will take part in the inaugural function where they will announce formation of the ‘grand alliance’.
The leaders felt that the new formation was the only ‘eligible and viable alternative’ to the Congress in the State. “No other front (read PRP front) would be able to dislodge the Congress,’’ a Left leader said.
Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu hosted lunch for Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhara Rao, CPM State secretary BV Raghavulu and CPI State secretay K Narayana and national leader Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy.
The four-hour-long meeting decided to forge an alliance, ending the suspense over which front the TRS would join. According to sources, the leaders felt that that the ‘Grand Alliance’ would make the Praja Rajayam party (PRP) a `small player’ in the State politics and that the main fight would be between the grand alliance and the Congress.
The leaders decided to hold agitational programmes jointly against the ‘corrupt’ Congress. For this they constituted a committee to look into various pressing issues and chalk out an action plan. K Rammohan Rao (TDP), Y Venkateswara Rao (CPM), K Narayana (CPI) and Jagadeswar Reddy (TRS) are the members of the committee. The top leaders of the four parties will meet again on Jan 18. The grand alliance is likely to hold a joint public meeting in Telangana in February. The date and venue of the meeting will be finalised after Jan 21.
“We (four parties) have decided to work together in the next election.
Our aim is to dethrone the Congress in the State,’’ Chandrasekhar Rao declared. He said the formation of the alliance would be announced at his party office between 10 am and 11 am on Jan 21.
Asked whether the four parties would be able to bring out a common manifesto, Naidu said: “We will let you know all the details on Jan 21.’’ Raghavulu hoped that there would be a straight fight between the Congress and the new front. “Only our alliance would be able to defeat the Congress in the State,’’ he remarked.
Speaking to reporters later, the four leaders charged Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy with ‘scams and corruption’.