Congress’ ‘T’ talk halts exodus to TRS

‘It was the condition that restrained them though they did not trust Congress’

A well- calculated move by Congress to send a strong message that it would shortly settle the Telangana issue has found its echo in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

Leaders from other parties have stopped in their tracks after having decided to join TRS going by signals from some quarters that the Congress might take steps to bifurcate the State.

They did not want to be seen on the other side of the fence if the Congress indeed conceded separate Telangana.

It was the condition that compelled them to restrain though they did not trust Congress to deliver the separate State, a senior TRS leader said. He admitted a stalemate in leaders from other parties joining TRS on account of the present political atmosphere.

The TRS has, however, closed its doors on some leaders who wanted to join the party eyeing ticket in next elections from constituencies of their choice. For instance, former AP State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO) chairman M. Sriramulu quit Congress on Sunday and joined TDP at a public meeting addressed by its president N. Chandrababu Naidu in Warangal.

He aspired for ticket from Jangaon Assembly constituency but the TRS had already committed the seat to Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy.

Earlier, Warangal MP of Congress S. Rajaiah’s entry into TRS was aborted by Kadiam Srihari joining the party days ahead. Both were claimants for Warangal Parliamentary constituency. Three other leaders from Congress – K. Keshava Rao, G. Vivekanand and Manda Jagannatham – who joined the TRS on that occasion did not face any kind of conflict.

The TRS did not attach much importance to former Congress Minister D.K. Samarasimha Reddy joining the TDP as the party considered him to be a “spent force” who was suspended by it in the past.

The same was the case with former Hanamkonda MP Chada Suresh Reddy who rejoined the TDP after a brief stint with TRS as general secretary.

Former TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said the situation took a turn after the Congress rally at Nizam college grounds on June 30.

The leaders preferred to “wait and watch” rather than take a hasty decision. If it became clear that Congress will not create Telangana State, it will be a great rush to TRS from Congress and TDP.

For the time being, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao is also tight-lipped and focussed on party programmes. He has also avoided public appearances.