TRS bosses worry over BJP ‘pressure’

Hyderabad: After intelligence confirmed these developments, the TRS bosses are in fear of BJP exploiting their internal squabbles and poaching senior leaders.

Sources close to the TRS top leadership disclosed that when they had expressed concern to the party boss over the possible shifting of certain MLAs and senior leaders to the BJP, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao exuded confidence that not a single leader will leave the party.

His reassurance notwithstanding, the TRS is worried. A senior TRS leader, on condition of anonymity, said that BJP had assured MLAs that if they defect, they would take care of victory the ensuing byelections in case of disqualification. Several TRS leaders are also worried that the BJP will exert pressure on their leaders in its efforts to expand base in the state and has promised good positions to leaders as an incentive to defect.

Sources said that the TRS party boss has asked senior leaders to keep a close tab on movements of MLAs to ensure there are no defections.