KCR meets Kesava on Telangana

Renewing his onslaught against the Congress and TD, Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao on Sunday appealed to the MPs and MLAs of the twin political parties to join the TRS before the latter’s foundation day on April 27.


Sources say the TRS chief’s appeal isn’t a hollow political move aimed at scaring the Congress and TD. “Rao means business this time around”, a TRS source said. “In fact, he is also in touch with five each MLAs of the Congress and TD respectively and they might soon join the TRS”, he added.


In fact, grapevine has it that TD MLAs from Karimnagar and Choppadandi, Gangula Kamalakar and Suddala Devaiah besides the Congress MLA from Wardhannapet Dr Kodati Sridhar might join the TRS any day now.


Kamlakar said on Sunday he was yet to take a final call but gave clear hints that he might join the TRS shortly after “consulting party workers and well wishers” However, in a related development, the TRS chief met Congress Working Committee member and former MP Dr K. Kesava Rao on Sunday. They remained closeted in the Congress MP’s house and were later joined by Nagarkurnool Congress MP Dr Manda Jagannadham, a source said.


On Saturday, Jagannadham met the TRS chief and discussed with him the modalities of joining the regional party (TRS). During the meeting, the TRS chief reported to have told the former Congress MP (Dr K Kesava Rao) that it was time he parted ways with his own party (Congress) and joined the regional party (TRS) to put up a joint fight for a separate Telangana state. He also reportedly offered the Congress leader the Zaheerabad Lok Sabha seat.


The TRS chief also told the Congress and TD leaders that the Congress would not consider granting statehood to Telangana before the 2014 general election. In such a case, it would be difficult for the Congress leaders to continue in the party and seek votes in the name of Telangana.