Andhra Pradesh   

Congress leaders react cautiously to TRS offer

HYDERABAD: Finding themselves without political allies in the run-up to the elections, Congress leaders have reacted cautiously to Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s statement that he was willing to sail with the ruling party if it came out in support of a separate State.

Amid the moves of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the TDP to forge an alliance in the next elections to oust the Congress, the latest comment by Mr. Rao has evoked a mixed response.

Some leaders from the region have dismissed as yet another ploy by the TRS chief and expressed doubts whether he would stick to his stand, while some others have welcomed it.

Those pitching hard for an early solution to the Telangana issue felt the latest assertion would give a chance for the two parties to revive their ties.

AICC secretary and Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaskhi, who has repeatedly raised the issue of statehood for the region, welcomed the statement.

“We are natural allies and people will believe us rather than the TRS-TDP combine,” he observed.

APCC spokesperson B. Kamalakar Rao said if the two parties came together the successful formula of 2004 elections would be replicated. Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao wanted APCC president D. Srinivas to meet the high command on the issue.

However, a couple of senior leaders cautioned the party to be wary of the TRS president’s double-speak.

Veteran Congress leader Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, who has been critical of Mr. Rao, felt that the Congress should not join hands with him. AICC secretary P. Sudhakar Reddy questioned the sincerity of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao’s commitment.

Former APCC general secretary and MLC K. R. Amos wondered why Mr. Rao was insisting on a firm assurance on statehood when the Congress had initiated a series of measures to build a consensus on the issue.

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