The Congress is pretty confident of emerging victorious in Telangana. Yet, it will keep its options open for an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) if the situation demands after the elections, said Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Telangana Digvijaya Singh.
In an email interview to The Hindu amid his busy campaign schedule in Madhya Pradesh, he said, “Politics is the art of the possible,” and the party would abide by the people’s verdict, indicating that it was open to the idea of alliance.
Mr. Singh said TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao had made his intention to merge the party with the Congress once Telangana became a reality abundantly clear.
“But in his wisdom he didn’t want a merger or alliance [now]. Every party takes its own decision and we respect it.”
On the Congress’ failure to effectively counter Mr. Rao’s barbs, Mr. Singh said the party did not believe in responding to attacks that were not based on facts and were directed at personalities. Mr. Singh did not agree that Mr. Rao was angered by the Congress’ strategy to lure TRS leaders, thus shutting the door on an alliance.
RealignmentThere was a re-alignment in politics after Telangana was announced and all political parties saw leaders switching sides, he said.
Mr. Singh disagreed with the view that the Congress had failed to capitalise on Telangana creation or that the absence of charismatic leaders had hit its chances.
“People of Telangana are extremely politics-savvy and have closely followed blow by blow how the Congress under Sonia Gandhi got the Bill [for creation of a separate State] passed in Parliament. Entire Telangana watched Parliament proceedings like they watch a cricket World Cup final. Everyone knows Telangana became a possibility only because of the Congress.”
