The Left and the Congress may be at loggerheads at the Centre, but Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy does not rule out the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with the Left parties in the state.
"We had a pre-poll alliance (with the Left). Nothing prevents us from having another pre-poll alliance before the next election," said the chief minister, who has been facing the wrath of the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Communist Party of India on the issue of land distribution to the poor.
Downplaying the Left's criticism of his government, he told PTI that the Left parties were not part of his government and it was natural for them to agitate for people's cause.
"I don't think we should be worried about that or think it is inimical to the ruling party," Reddy said.
The chief minister said he did not contribute to the idea that there was a strained relation between the Congress and the Left.
On the projection of All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi as 'potential prime minister', he said the young leader was "definitely a potential leader. As and when he wants, the country can think about it. But it is not on the agenda right now."
Reddy insistsed that there was no cause for the Congress to abandon the United Progressive Alliance experiment of sharing power.
"You cannot take a decision overnight. The Congress party has to gain its strength and wherever our strength alone can safely sail us through, we can think about this. Otherwise, we have to grow and become strong, even if it is slowly but steadily," he said.
Reddy was asked whether it was time for Congress not to go with a coalition experiment like the UPA.
Asked whether it was "feel-good" for Congress ahead of a possible snap poll, with the Telugu Desam Party not yet getting its act together and Telugu Rashtra Samithi a divided lot, Reddy remarked "the term 'feel-good' itself is not good."
"We as political beings should always be careful and watch our flanks, take things in our stride and do our best," Reddy said.
On Telengana, Reddy claimed even TRS leader Chandrasekhara Rao admitted that the Congress government's developmental activities in the region "cannot be wished away."
Maintaining that the separate Telengana issue was a concern for his party, he said even the TRS leader admits that the state government has met his "citizen-right" by carrying out developmental activities in the region.
"As far as Congress party is concerned, we have never said we are not for Telengana or our doors are closed," the chief minister said.
"As far as the Congress is concerned, it is still an open issue. As and when proper opportunity is there, we shall look into it and do whatever is best," he said.