TDP holds key in four ZP's of Telangana

HYDERABAD: As the TDP's support is crucial in the election for the posts of Zilla Parishad chairman in four districts in Telangana--Warangal, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy--TDP leaders are keeping their options open.

Indicating this, TDP Telangana unit chief L Ramana said their party would play a key role not only in deciding the Zilla Parishad chairman posts in four districts of Telangana, but also in determining the new government in the T-State.

Indirectly disclosing that they are not averse either to support the Congress or the TRS depending on the 'future situation', Ramana said, 'Our party will support any political party which will strive hard for the development of T-State.'

The Telangana leaders of the TDP have started discussing whom they should support at the time of elections to ZP chairman posts in the four districts where Congress and TRS are neck and neck with each other.

Apart from party Telangana unit chief L Ramana, other seniors such as Motkupally Narsimhulu and E Dayakar Rao held a meeting at NTR Trust Bhavan. During the meeting, the leaders reviewed the party's performance in the municipal as well as panchayat polls.

According to sources, the thinking of the leaders is that it would be better for them to take a decision as per the local situation in those districts.

'Despite the efforts of the Congress and the TRS to destroy the TDP in Telangana, our party performed well in municipal and panchayat polls. Our party's role has become very crucial in deciding the chairman posts in as many as four ZPs in Telangana.

We are hopeful that similar hung verdict will come even in the Assembly polls in Telangana, where the TDP's role will be crucial in deciding the new government,' said Dayakar Rao.

However, final decision with regard to which party the TDP should support in the Zilla Parishads where hung verdict has come, will be taken only after TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's return from abroad.

Naidu, who has been on a foreign trip along with the members of his family for the past few days, is expected to be back in Hyderabad by Thursday morning.

NUMBERS GAME

l In Warangal, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts, neither the Congress nor the TRS has sufficient numbers to bag the ZP chairman posts. They can get the chairman posts only if they manage to get the support of the TDP members

l In Warangal, of the 50 ZPTC seats, Congress bagged 24 and TRS 18. Though the TDP won only six ZPTCs here, its support is crucial to decide the chairman post. Similarly, in Medak, of the 46 ZPTC seats, Congress has won 21, TRS 21 and TDP four

In Mahbubnagar, Congress bagged 28 seats and TRS 24, out of the the 64 ZPTCs. TDP which won nine seats has become crucial there

In Ranga Reddy district, of the 33 ZPTCs, Congress has won 14, TRS 12 and TDP seven

CONFINED TO CAMPS

Both the Congress and the TRS have begun keeping their ZPTC and MPTC members in camps, particularly in those segments where hung verdict has come, so as to prevent them from being poached by rival parties. Congress ZPTC members are being held in camps in Warangal, Ranga Reddy and Mahbubnagar districts to keep the flock together.