Congress in favour of tying up with CPI and MIM in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Immediately after TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s announcement, Telangana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the Congress had never tried for an alliance with the TRS. He pointed out that it was Mr Rao who had announced that the TRS would merge with the Congress if the Telangana state was formed. We never said we are for alliances. It was he (Mr Rao) who said so and appointed committees, Mr Lakshmaiah said, referring to the K. Kesava Rao committee that started talks with the Congress.

Mr Lakshmaiah said the Congress would now go it alone as the people of Telangana acknowledge that the party has fulfilled its long pending promise of granting the region statehood. We are very strong in Telangana. We will win hands down, Mr Lakshmaiah said.

The main reason for the TRS backout was the lukewarm response from the Congress to a precondition from TRS leaders that Mr Rao should be declared the chief ministerial candidate and leader of the Congress TRS alliance.