Poll parties in tizzy over ties

Hyderabad, Nov. 5: There is utter confusion among the Opposition parties in the state over pre-poll alliances. The ruling Congress, which announced that it would go to the next elections all alone, is busy in preparing its cadre for the 2009 poll battle. However, the Telugu Desam and the newly formed Praja Rajyam have not yet been able to cobble up alliances against the Congress. It is the strategic silence of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the CPI-M on their poll plans that is keeping the TD and the Praja Rajyam on tenterhooks. Though the state leaders of the CPI-M are in favour of allying with the TD, the CPI state leaders prefer the Praja Rajyam. However, the central leaders of both the Left parties are of the opinion that they should take a joint decision whether it is to ally with the TD or the Praja Rajyam. This has created jitters in the TD. Even though the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has come out in favour of a separate Telangana, the TRS too is keeping its cards close to the chest. After Chiranjeevi�s so called pro-Telangana statement, an alliance between the Praja Rajyam and the TRS has also become a possibility. But the TD politburo member, Mr E. Dayakar Rao, exuded confidence that the Left and the TRS would finally align with his party. On the other hand, the BJP, which is planning to expand its base in Telangana, has been trying hard to ally with the Nava Telangana party and the Talli Telangana. It is also keenly watching the political moves of Chiranjeevi. His reported comments to a news channel the other day that he was keeping his options open over aligning with the BJP generated much interest, though Mr Chiranjeevi ruled out any chance of joining hands with the saffron party. The BJP feels that if the Left allies with the TD, the Praja Rajyam would have no option but to tilt towards the BJP. The state unit of the party thinks that the tide will turn in its favour once Mr L.K. Advani�s �Vijay Sankalp Yatra� is launched in the State on November 13. But if the Congress central leadership will take a favourable decision on Telangana, all these equations may change.