07-17-2008, 03:06 AM
<b> TRS is emerging as nucleus of smaller parties
</b>
Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) seems to be emerging as the nucleus of smaller parties and Independents wanting to vote out the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on July 22.
Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar set the ball rolling initially when he talked to TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao over telephone to seek the latterâs support in favour of the UPA.
But, the stand taken by Mr. Rao that the Union Cabinet first pass a resolution granting statehood to Telangana became a deterrent for the UPA camp to continue negotiations with him.
After the UPA gave up hopes, other parties and individual MPs were in touch with him almost on a daily basis. On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati called up Mr. Rao to seek his support in the voting against the UPA. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener George Fernandes contacted Mr. Rao over phone on Wednesday.
<b>
Mr. Rao is believed to be even prepared to support the candidature of Mayawati for the Prime Ministerâs post, as she had favoured statehood for Telangana in the past. He is also planning to hold a meeting of smaller parties and Independents in New Delhi on July 20, for better floor coordination.</b>
Asked if an alliance of parties with contradictory ideologies such as the Left, BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party was possible, Mr. Rao said politics was always dynamic and there were no permanent enemies in it.
Two independent MPs, Manchiran Mayi (Manipur) and Tuksan Chawang (Ladakh), too pleaded with Mr. Rao to vote against the government. The former called on Mr. Rao at his residence here.
Though the TRS technically has three members in the Lok Sabha, the party had expelled one of them, A. Narendra, after a scandal. The party is proposing to issue a whip that its members vote against the government.
</b>
Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) seems to be emerging as the nucleus of smaller parties and Independents wanting to vote out the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on July 22.
Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar set the ball rolling initially when he talked to TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao over telephone to seek the latterâs support in favour of the UPA.
But, the stand taken by Mr. Rao that the Union Cabinet first pass a resolution granting statehood to Telangana became a deterrent for the UPA camp to continue negotiations with him.
After the UPA gave up hopes, other parties and individual MPs were in touch with him almost on a daily basis. On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati called up Mr. Rao to seek his support in the voting against the UPA. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener George Fernandes contacted Mr. Rao over phone on Wednesday.
<b>
Mr. Rao is believed to be even prepared to support the candidature of Mayawati for the Prime Ministerâs post, as she had favoured statehood for Telangana in the past. He is also planning to hold a meeting of smaller parties and Independents in New Delhi on July 20, for better floor coordination.</b>
Asked if an alliance of parties with contradictory ideologies such as the Left, BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party was possible, Mr. Rao said politics was always dynamic and there were no permanent enemies in it.
Two independent MPs, Manchiran Mayi (Manipur) and Tuksan Chawang (Ladakh), too pleaded with Mr. Rao to vote against the government. The former called on Mr. Rao at his residence here.
Though the TRS technically has three members in the Lok Sabha, the party had expelled one of them, A. Narendra, after a scandal. The party is proposing to issue a whip that its members vote against the government.