TRS explores Mamata’s Federal Front options

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Hyderabad: In a surprise twist, TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Tuesday that new entrant K. Kesava Rao, who recently quit the Congress, was in touch with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her proposed Federal Front.
Anointing Dr Kesava Rao as the TRS secretary-general and chairman of the party’s national affairs committee, the TRS chief said: “From now on, Kesava Rao will be the next in command after me in the party. He has wide knowledge and experience in Delhi politics. In fact, he was in touch with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the Federal Front too.”
“But,” he added, “we will not align with any Front at the Centre unless they agree to the creation of Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital.” Chandrasekhar Rao saw the TRS playing a key role in the formation of the next government in Delhi. “Please don’t underestimate our party and our strength. We will play a crucial role at the Centre. With the majority of Lok Sabha seats bagged by us from the state, no political front can dare to ignore us,” he asserted.
Chalo Assembly was a success, says KCR
TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said he was confident the TRS would win 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats from the Telangana region. In the Seemandhra region, it will be a fight between the Congress, the Telugu Desam and the YSR Congress, he said.
“The Congress, TD and YSRC will have to fight among themselves for the rest of the 25 seats in Seemandhra. I am sure no one will get as many seats as the TRS will get in Telangana.”  Chandrasekhar Rao also claimed that the Chalo Assembly programme was a success, despite the government resorting to repressive measures.
He was asked about the criticism from several political parties that they were not consulted before he announced the Telangana bandh on Saturday last. “Why should I consult them?” he shot back.
“I represent the biggest party in the region. We have so many MLAs, and the party structure allows us to take decisions on our own. It was the TRS party’s decision and we never asked others for their cooperation.”