HYDERABAD: Is the Telengana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) planning to bid adieu to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition at Centre?

This was what had been indicated to the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders by Union Minister of State for Rural Development and TRS leader A. Narendra when he met them at the BJP office here on Thursday. According to BJP sources, Mr. Narendra wanted the BJP central leadership to come out openly in support of Telangana State at the earliest. He told them that such a move would provide leeway for TRS to quit since the Congress was not coming forward to create a separate State. Besides, it would also strengthen the NDA at the national level. He was also believed to have mentioned about growing Telangana sentiment and criticism that TRS-Congress combine was causing delay in the formation of Telangana.

Is this a precursor of BJP and the regional party joining hands?

"Let them first come out of UPA" said the sources.

Visits BJP office

In a significant political development, Mr. Narendra visited the State BJP office and urged the party to impress upon BJP president Rajnath Singh to support the cause of separate Telangana during his visit here on March 18.

Mr. Narendra was closeted with BJP State president N. Indrasena Reddy, vice-president S. V. Seshagiri Rao and general secretary K. Laxman for over an hour. He also wanted the Telangana issue to be discussed at the BJP national office-bearers' meeting to be held in New Delhi on Friday.

Talking to reporters later, Mr. Seshagiri Rao and Mr. Laxman said that Mr. Narendra's request would be conveyed to Mr. Rajnath Singh immediately.

Answering questions, they maintained that the State BJP had clearly spelt out its stand in favour of Telangana at Mahabubnagar. Telangana was an important issue in the national context and the central party would respond at an "appropriate time".

The BJP had made it clear time and again to the TRS leadership that the party would not give its opinion to the UPA sub-committee headed Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, as it was not a Government panel.

Mr. Narendra's unscheduled visit came in the backdrop of attempts being made by TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao to seek the support of as many parties for the cause of a separate State.

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