HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) ignored the ultimatum issued by the CPI(Maoist) and the CPI(ML) Janashakti to sever links with the ruling Congress in the State by Wednesday.

As the deadline set by the two parties came to an end, TRS leaders decided not to react to the sensitive issue but were reluctant to go on record.

The Maoist Central Committee member, Prakash, had issued an ultimatum to TRS leaders and Ministers to break ties with the Congress.

A Cabinet Minister belonging to the TRS, seeking anonymity, said his party had decided not to heed to the ultimatum.

"Our party has always believed in non-violent agitation to achieve separate Telangana," he said. "The report of the three-member Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Union Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, will surprise everybody," he claimed. While criticising TRS leaders, Prakash had charged them with clinging to power and ignoring the promise made to the electorate on forming a separate State.

He had exhorted people to confront TRS leaders and force them to break the alliance. A senior TRS leader pointed out that revolutionary parties also wanted Telangana.

"The ultimatum served on us will not have any impact," he observed.

Interestingly, the former Maoist and Janashakti emissaries -- G. Kalyan Rao and Challapalli Srinivasa Rao -- shied away from the media when approached for reaction.

"The issue will be discussed in the party," was the comment offered by Mr. Srinivasa Rao while Mr. Kalyan Rao kept mum.

Another former emissary, Varavara Rao, felt that the TRS had to decide whether they wanted to cling on to power or launch a struggle.

Meanwhile, the TDP has dismissed the warning. It said it was the TRS-Congress combine but not the TDP that played the Telangana card in the elections.

Its spokesperson, Kadiam Srihari, said that it was not proper for anyone or organisation to speak of things which were strictly between the political parties and its supporters.

"It is not proper for naxalites to try and impose their will," he observed.

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