The wait for statehood for Telangana just got longer. In true Congress style, the party has once again delayed a decision on the issue by referring the matter to its Working Committee. The CWC’s next meeting is scheduled for August.
Hyderabad has always been the bone of contention in the Telangana statehood debate. Today, however, discussions over political tie-ups in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections have taken precedence.
Earlier, one thought that the Congress had come to terms that it would fare badly in Rayalaseema and Andhra and by granting Telangana they would secure their poll prospects in this region.
However, the stumbling block for them was the Telangana Rastriya Samithi.
TRS Chief K Chandrasekara Rao had struck a deal with the Congress a year ago aimed at merging his party with the latter. However, Rao had a change of mind on his return from New Delhi after his party leaders told him that the advantage should not be given to the Congress.
The Congress is today again trying to rope in the TRS, but Rao is adamant.
The TRS feels that it should go to polls and test the waters on its own.
Also, many in the TRS still feel that the Congress may not hand over a separate state.
The Congress, on the other hand, also does realise that if it hands over Telangana and faces the elections on its own, the TRS will still have a considerable vote share since many in the region feel that it was this party which fought all through for the cause.
So with the TRS refusing to budge, the Congress is now counting on having a post-poll tie-up with KCR’s party.
Another major player in the game is Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress.
Jagan is well aware that his party would be washed out in the Lok Sabha elections of they tied up with the Congress. But sources in the YSR Congress party say that a post-poll alliance is something that they could consider. This again would depend on their performance in the elections and a tie up with the Congress would only be a desperate measure in case they are falling short of seats.
However, if Jagan finds himself in a very strong position there is every chance that he may go with a Third Front if that is a force to reckon with post 2014.
The Congress Working Committee meeting which is scheduled either for the last week of July or first week of August will largely discuss the issues of alliances. The party is aware that it cannot take the statehood decision too far. Once the party is able to finalise its poll strategy for Andhra Pradesh, one could expect movement on the Telangana issue.
