KCR ready to dump Congress - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samithi is all set to dump its plan to merge with the Congress and go it alone in the next general elections, notwithstanding the UPA government's decision to carve out separate Telangana State.

The rapidly eroding support base of the Congress has prompted the sub-regional party to opt for the solo act. It is also hopeful of coming to power on its own strength in the new Telangana State.

According to sources, TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao told his close confidants in the party that the TRS would not gain much by merging itself with Congress as the ruling party was fast losing its ground across the country.

'Almost all the surveys so far have predicted that the Congress-led UPA will not come to power at the Centre after 2014 elections and hence, there is no point in aligning with it at this stage,' he is learnt to have said.

KCR reportedly told the party leaders that the TRS would have greater advantage if it retained identity even after the Telangana formation, instead of merging with the Congress.

'It will have greater bargaining power at the Centre whichever coalition comes to power in the next elections. Even if the UPA comes to power for the third consecutive time, the TRS can demand a fair share in power. And if it is the NDA which comes to power, too, the TRS will have a bigger role to play,' he is learnt to have observed.

Apparently, the TRS leadership is of the view that the Congress would not gain much even if it forms Telangana State. 'Though the Congress high command has taken the decision in favour of Telangana, the credit goes solely to the TRS and people are aware of the role played by TRS in achieving the statehood goal.

The latest surveys also indicated that the TRS will get not less than 12-13 Lok Sabha seats. In the Assembly elections, too, it will be advantage TRS and there are bright chances of the party coming to power in the prospective Telangana State,' sources said, adding that KCR's family can rule the roost in the new State.

The TRS wants to exploit the inability of the Telangana Congress leaders to grab advantage of the situation. 'There is no strong leadership in the Telangana Congress.

There are more than half a dozen contenders for the Chief Minister post, but none has the stature. Moreover, there are different groups among the Telangana Congress leaders which run down one another,' he is learnt to have commented.