TRS gets its flock together before counting

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti K Chandrasekhara Rao, who created a stir by jumping from the boat of Third Front and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance a few days ago, has put in place an elaborate plan to protect his flock of Memebers of Parliaments and Members of the Legislative Assemblies from poaching.

The TRS candidates have started reaching the party headquarters at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, ahead of the counting of votes on Saturday. The party has made arrangements for the comfortable stay of the nearly 60 candidates. Rao, who was in New Delhi till Thursday, spoke to candidates over phone and asked them to move to the party office from their residences.

To ensure they remain safe even during the transit, KCR asked them to remain in touch with him over phone. Fearing that the rival parties or formations may try to lure the candidates or kidnap them. Rao also spoke to the family members of the candidates explaining them why it was necessary for him to bring all the candidates to the party office. KCR has also urged the family members not to entertain any other party if it approaches them, during the absence of the candidates.

The TRS candidates, who also include KCR's son K Tarakarama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, are expected to remain confined to the party office till the political uncertainty clears up about the formation of government at the Center.

It is largely believed here that the TRS may win four Lok Sabha seats and less than 20 assembly seats.

The TRS had fought the elections as a partner of TDP-lead Grand Alliance and got a good deal as TDP left 45 assembly and 9 Lok Sabha seats to the party. But as soon as the polling was over, TRS switched the loyalties by attending the National Democratic Alliance rally at Ludhiana.

The Third Front has hit back at the TRS by not inviting it to the strategy session of the formation in New Delhi on May 18.