Khammam: Though there is no clarity on their alliance, field level cadre of the Telugu Desam in Khammam district have commenced parleys with the Congress to defeat TRS-backed candidates in the panchayat elections next month. The panchayat elections are non-party based, but parties support candidates and their political affiliations are well known. Former MP Nama Nageswara Rao addressed a party meeting for Khammam Rural mandal and asked the cadre for their opinion over the possible alliance for the 2019 elections. Seven out of ten TD activists wanted to sail with the Congress.
A party worker said, “The TRS tried to vanquish the Telugu Desam in Telangana and it took away many of our leaders. We should defeat the TRS by hook or by crook”. Further, cases being filed against TD cadre in various villages have irked the party cadre. Besides, Telugu Desam cadre are being ignored in government-sponsored welfare schemes. Local Congress and Telugu Desam leaders took the initiative and started discussions on how they can face the TRS in the local body elections.
Sources said they met in Kusumanchi, a mandal headquarter town in Palair Assembly segment represented by road and buildings minister T. Nageswara Rao. Many second-rung TD leaders joined the TRS after Mr Nageswara Rao became minister. This angered the loyalist TD cadre who are not willing to move out, and are ready to sail with the Congress. The common point uniting the ground level leaders of both parties is the anti-establishment factor. Congress workers are angry with the TRS, and the signals coming from the TD are welcome.
Kusumanchi-style meetings are being witnessed in many villages in the district. Mr Nageswara Rao said, “We hinted to the cadre that the TD will go with an alliance in Telangana. Our options are open. The party will decide with whom to have the alliance. These leaders are going in favour of the Congress at the ground level which is very surprising for us.”
