TRS eyed union with Congress

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s admission that at one time an idea was mooted by some party leaders to merge the TRS with the Congress in lieu of Telangana created ripples in political circles.

The TRS chief told a TV channel that the issue was discussed in the party and there were divergent views.

“If it is mooted again, I cannot take the decision alone. I have to consult other party leaders and workers. I did tell the UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi that I would work with her. But Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s opposition to Telangana nullified all these things,” he said.

He added that many party leaders disapproved of the merger saying the party should undo the wrongs done to the region. “We had diametrically opposite views,” he said.

The TRS chief’s statement unnerved some party men. “There is no need for merger of the TRS with the Congress. The TRS has established its identity and it is the only party which has become a symbol of Telangana struggle. Such statements create confusion and will be advantageous to the Congress,” a senior TRS leader said.

Meanwhile, preparations are on for the TRS foundation day celebrations on April 28. Mr Rao is reportedly planning to announce a road map to keep up the Telangana tempo till the Srikrishna panel submits its report by the year end.

Sources in the party said Mr Rao would undertake a whirlwind tour of Telangana districts for bypolls. Mr Rao is planning to launch a fullscale attack on the CPI(M) and the Praja Rajyam.