MIM may enter into an alliance with TRS

Hyderabad: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is most likely to enter into an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

Having severed its ties with the Congress party in November 2012, the MIM was sailing alone in the state politics. Its former ally Telugu Desam Party inched towards the Bharatiya Janata Party and therefore, the possibilities of MIM resuming ties with Nara Chandrababu Naidu faded.

The YSR Congress Party's opposition to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh weakened its position in Telangana and therefore, the MIM did not make any attempts to forge an alliance with Jagan Mohan Reddy.

MIM openly opposed the formation of Telangana and even proposed Rayala-Telangana if the division was inevitable. This stand hit the party's plans to expand in districts of Telangana other than Hyderabad.

However, the MIM appears to have reversed its stand on Telangana after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi not only supported the Bill, but spoke in tone that matched the pro-Telangana parties, especially the TRS.

The ensuing elections to Rajya Sabha seats have provided the MIM an opportunity to find a new ally in the TRS. According to sources, the top leaders of both the parties are in constant touch to forge an alliance not only for the Rajya Sabha elections, but for the Parliament and Assembly polls scheduled to be held this year.

On Monday, TRS leaders including party's Rajya Sabha candidate K. Keshav Rao, T. Harish Rao and K. Tarakarama Rao called on MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi at his latter's chamber in the Assembly.

The TRS leaders have reportedly sought the MIM support to ensure victory of Keshav Rao in exchange for an alliance in next Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

The leaders of both the parties remained tight-lipped on what transpired during the meeting held on Monday. However, they gave clear indications that both the parties were not against having an alliance in near future.