TRS taken aback by BJP onslaught

Hyderabad: Senior leaders admit that the TRS MLAs have conveyed to the BJP high command that they were willing to defect but not in a position to face byelections, in case of disqualification. Most of them feel that the ruling TRS would have an advantage in byelections forced in such circumstances, but gave assurance to the BJP’s national leadership that if it could split the ruling party, then many MLAs will come forward.

State BJP president Dr. K. Laxman has openly declared that the party high command has given an assurance to leaders willing to join BJP that their political career would be protected, and they have better prospects with them.

Besides battling the unprecedented BJP onslaught, the TRS circles have also been taken aback by the open and shrill voices of dissent, and defiance, against its top leadership in recent times, another black swan phenomenon for the pink party. This confirms fears among many a TRS party leader that this new-found dissidence amongst MLAs and other leaders has been enabled by the BJP backing, or else these leaders would have never dared to defy the leadership openly.

The TRS leaders admit privately that their party’s top leadership initially tried to pacify dissatisfied MLAs after the Cabinet expansion, but then shifted its response style, and began giving ultimatums to them. But with an alarming increase in number of dissidents, the TRS high command has decided to eat humble pie, at least for now, and reverted to pacifying them through negotiations.

Party working president, K.T. Rama Rao, has initiated talks with several MLAs, said to be dissatisfied, and told them that he would soon visit their residence to discuss their issues in detail, the TRS sources added.