The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TRS to join a Congress-led coalition regime

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TRS to join a Congress-led coalition regime

By N. Rahul

HYDERABAD, MAY 1. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will participate in a coalition government led by the Congress if the latter is elected to power.

The TRS will settle only for four to five ministerial berths, mainly to play a `watchdog role' when an arbitrator is appointed by the Centre for dividing the assets and liabilities between separate Andhra and Telangana States, the party president, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, told The Hindu here today.

Brushing aside the demand of a section of his partymen against joining the Ministry, Mr. Rao said it was a historical necessity for the TRS to be part of the government to ensure the formation of a separate State. He maintained that the TRS would fully exploit the current pro-Telangana sentiment which would gain `legitimacy' through a democratic process - voting. He would not allow a repetition of the earlier experience when the demand for Telangana was crushed despite a decisive electoral verdict in favour of a separate State, he asserted.

Mr. Rao said he expected a hung Assembly in which the Congress may get 130 seats and TDP-BJP 115 to 120 seats. The TRS would emerge as a key player with 35 seats in its kitty and retain its separate identity while continuing Telangana-specific support to Congress.

The TRS chief warned that it would be a `do or die' effort for Telangana once a new government was in place. The party would intensify the movement if the Congress, which agreed for the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) while honouring the first SRC's recommendations on Statehood for Telangana and Vidarbha, went back on the understanding.

Mr. Rao explained that the party's representation in the Cabinet was essential to see that Telangana was not deprived of its legitimate share of government jobs and river waters and other assets. Telangana stood to gain at least two lakh jobs. Also, it was the arbitrator's report that would form the basis for fixing the geographical boundaries of the new State.

Mr. Rao did not foresee any trouble if a Congress government in the State adopted a resolution favouring the State of Telangana. But, the TRS would withdraw support to the Congress if it did not do so.

He did not see any hitch in Parliament okaying the demand for a separate State as the TRS enjoyed the support of various other parties to win the numbers game. By a rough estimate, he expected 80 to 90 MPs other than those of the BJP and Congress to support the resolution.

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