Hyderabad: Peeved at the Congress’s strongarm tactics, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Friday that the party will decide on the merger and future ties with the Congress, on March 3, keeping in mind the best interests of the people of Telangana.
“We will take a decision which is good for Telangana people at the full fledged party meeting on March 3. If they (Congress) are good, give respect and honour, we will work together. I can't take a decision alone; all wings of the party will do it,” he said.
The TRS-Congress ties hit rock bottom and any hopes of a merger evaporated after the Congress in an attempt to corner Mr Rao, admitted suspended TRS MP Vijayashanti and Mancherial MLA Arvind Reddy into the party. “We have achieved Telangana. If people cooperate, I will fulfil your dreams in six or seven years. Is there a need for Andhra leaders in Telangana? I appeal to Telangana Telugu Desam leaders and cadre to join TRS en masse from village to district level,” Mr Rao said.
Mr Rao on Friday welcomes Telugu Desam legislators Mahender Reddy, K.S. Rathnam and Narender Reddy into the party at Telangana Bhavan. When a party worker asked Mr Rao to spell out the party’s stance on merger with the Congress, the TRS chief asked him, “Do you want merger or not?” There were immediate cries of “No... No” from the crowd.” Mr Rao said, “Okay. So you don’t want a merger. They (the Congress) are talking differently. Okay, we will decide about it on March 3.”
Mr asserted that a strong government and leadership were needed to turn the promises made to the people into a reality in Telangana. “To achieve the goal of golden Telangana and successful implementation of all our dreams, we need a strong government and a strong leadership.”
