Palair byelection: Question mark hangs on TD after party campaigns for Cong

Hyderabad: The fate of the Telangana TD after Monday’s Palair byelection, where it not only supported but also campaigned vigorously with the Congress — the first development is its kind after its formation — is being debated in the party circles.

According to a key  functionary in the Telangana Congress, a new political alternative for the TRS will emerge with Congress, TD, YSRC, CPI and CPM by the 2019 elections.

He did not wish to go on record on this, stating that it may expose the Congress’ weakness as well — it has been saying all along that it would provide an alternative to the TRS.

Confirming that the Telangana TD may go for seat adjustments and an alliance with the Congress, its key leader told this newspaper on Sunday: “Chandrababu Naidu has given us a free hand and asked us to plan an independent strategy. It is a fact the the TD was born on an anti-Congress plank. But that decision was taken when only the Congress and the TD were major parties in united AP.”

He said the situation had changed with the TRS forming government in Telangana following bifurcation of the state. “We need to formulate new strategies including striking an alliance with the Congress, there is nothing wrong in it,” he said.

The TS TD leader pointed to the example of the Congress and the Left opposing each other in Kerala but striking an alliance in West Bengal.

“Ours is also a similar strategy. We are forced to move towards the Congress due to the BJP district units passing resolutions against working with the TD,” a key TD functionary said.

Admitting that the TD campaign in favour of the Congress at Palair may mar its credentials, party leader E. Peddireddy said it would be better for the party to discuss and formulate strategy after the bypoll to give clarity not only to public but also to the cadre.

“There are no byelections in the near future, but still clarity is needed for the TD on its relations with the Congress,” Mr Peddireddy said.

He said though the TD had earlier supported the Congress in some bypolls caused due to the death of sitting legislators, it had never campaigned so vigorously as in Palair — so much so that it gave an impression that the TD was in the fray.

Senior TD functionary Kottakota Dayakara Reddy has been vociferous attacking his own party men who have been trying for a Rajya Sabha berth from AP. He has alleged that more TS TD leaders are planning to join the TRS or the Congress.

“One thing is sure. Whether somebody is given a Rajya Sabha ticket from Telangana or not, a few leaders will quit the party. It is because there is no proper planning on how to run the party,” he said.

Cop dies on duty in Palair
Tension prevailed for some time after constable Kesavarao Naik died of cardiac arrest at Tirumalayapalem while on poll duty, Cops alleged that the officials failed in providing water and food to them.

The stage is set for the Palair bypoll where 1.9 lakh voters will decide the fate of minister T. Nageswara Rao and late MLA Venkat Reddy’s wife Sucharita Reddy, the Congress candidate.