TRS weakens itself, strengthens Congress

Hyderabad, March 31: Mahakutami leaders struggling to patch over the differences riddling their alliance have suddenly found a new problem: The TRS has fielded weak candidates in at least 20 seats, gravely affecting the opposition group.

They were stunned when the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, decided to contest from the Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, where the party is known to be weak.

The party has opted for seats in Mahbubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Hyder-abad districts, and put up unknowns in many places. So serious is the Mahakutami worry that there were rumours that the TRS has deliberately nominated weak candidates to benefit the Congress. Asked about this, Mr Rao said angrily: “I will cop off my head, but I will not indulge in anything that will affect Telangana movement.”
An Adilabad TRS leader, Ms Suhasini Reddy, quit the party in protest over denial of ticket. She alleged that party had made a strategic mistake by handing over TRS strongholds to the Telugu Desam.

The TRS has opted for the Kukatpally Assembly segment, a settlers’ stronghold, and nominated Mr M. Suda-rshan Rao, a hardcore Tela-ngana leader. The TRS nominated Mr Mettu Surya-prakash in the Muslim-dominated Nampally at the last minute, after forcing out the TD nominee, Mr Mohd Saleem, the former Wakf Board chairman.

In Vikarabad, a reluctant TRS leader, Mr A. Chandra-sekhar Rao, has been fielded again.
“It’s a very, very risky step taken by Mr Rao. The TRS has no hold in Mahbubnagar and much less in parts of Ranga Reddy district and Hyderabad, where there are a large number of settlers (people from other areas). Settlers voting for TRS candidates are ruled out,” a TRS leader said.

Congress leaders like Mr Danam Nagender have observed that there is no “Telangana sentiment” in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district. The Mahakutami annou-nced that its leaders will campaign separately but will address public meetings together at Suryapet (Nalgonda district) on April 6, Mahbubnagar on April 9 and Visakhapatnam April 13.

The alliance also faces the prospect of having many rebels contesting against official candidates. Some candidates who
were given B forms for strategic reasons are
also refusing to withdraw now.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti spokesperson, Mr Jagdish Reddy, said the TRS had issued B forms only to official nominees. Mr Naidu denied B forms were issued for extra seats, and said that barring official candidates others who filed their nominations would not get party symbols.

Nearly 25 Telugu Desam leaders have filed papers in seats allotted to Telanga Rashtra Samiti. The haze will clear on Thursday, the last date for withdrawal of nominations.