Hyderabad:
With Parliament passing the Telangana Bill and paving the way for the region to be turned into India's 29th state by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, all parties are now looking at changing strategies, and perhaps political realignments.
With eye on Lok Sabha polls, due by May, the Congress would like the Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS to merge with it so that electoral gains can be consolidated. The TRS, fully aware that the Congress enjoys goodwill in the region now, won't be reluctant to do business with the party, but not at the cost of annihilating itself. So there possibly could be a pre-poll alliance.
But the TRS would want to keep its options open, post the elections, so it could be part of the winning combination set to form government at the Centre.
The BJP will also try to actively woo the TRS in Telangana. But if the TRS goes with the Congress, it will have no option but to go with either the TDP or go it alone, banking on its own leaders and cadres. The local leadership here prefers the latter option.
Chandrababu Naidu's TDP has tried to run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. Its Telangana unit and Seemandhra unit have pursued completely contrary lines. Mr Naidu's overtures to the BJP's Narendra Modi for an alliance and also to stop the bifurcation bill did not work out. Right now, the TDP does not want to do any business with the BJP in Seemandhra. Sources say the party believes there is a sharp public perception that the BJP first raised hopes and then let down the people of the region. So it would want to wait for a week to 10 days before even considering the option, in case public mood changes.
But the TDP's options are limited. A TDP-BJP combine, using the national appeal of Narendra Modi and progressive image of Chandrababu Naidu, would be able to promise progress on the fast track to the residuary state, that will be grappling with many challenges. The TDP would want to argue that it is because of the BJP and Mr Naidu harping on "equal justice" that Seemandhra has got the packages that it has been offered.
Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress is unlikely to have a pre-poll alliance with any other party. It will go to the people on the goodwill evoked by YSR and emphasize that it was the only, and the first, party to clearly state, post the Congress Working Committee resolution, that it was against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The YSR Congress hopes to win a sizeable chunk of the Seemandhra Lok Sabha seats and hopes to be in a position of reckoning, post elections, with its political options open.
For the Seemandhra Congress, it is the most gloomy picture of all. Its leaders are desperately looking to jump off what they see as a sinking ship, to any party that can give them some political space and hope for immediate future.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, who quit as chief minister over the Telangana controversy earlier this week, has not announced any new political party. With the state already divided, there are questions on what political plank he will use. Also, the ranks of those willing to sail with him at this stage seems to be dwindling, even though earlier several Seemandhra MPs, ministers and MLAs were pushing him to step out and start his own party.
With eye on Lok Sabha polls, due by May, the Congress would like the Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS to merge with it so that electoral gains can be consolidated. The TRS, fully aware that the Congress enjoys goodwill in the region now, won't be reluctant to do business with the party, but not at the cost of annihilating itself. So there possibly could be a pre-poll alliance.
But the TRS would want to keep its options open, post the elections, so it could be part of the winning combination set to form government at the Centre.
The BJP will also try to actively woo the TRS in Telangana. But if the TRS goes with the Congress, it will have no option but to go with either the TDP or go it alone, banking on its own leaders and cadres. The local leadership here prefers the latter option.
Chandrababu Naidu's TDP has tried to run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. Its Telangana unit and Seemandhra unit have pursued completely contrary lines. Mr Naidu's overtures to the BJP's Narendra Modi for an alliance and also to stop the bifurcation bill did not work out. Right now, the TDP does not want to do any business with the BJP in Seemandhra. Sources say the party believes there is a sharp public perception that the BJP first raised hopes and then let down the people of the region. So it would want to wait for a week to 10 days before even considering the option, in case public mood changes.
But the TDP's options are limited. A TDP-BJP combine, using the national appeal of Narendra Modi and progressive image of Chandrababu Naidu, would be able to promise progress on the fast track to the residuary state, that will be grappling with many challenges. The TDP would want to argue that it is because of the BJP and Mr Naidu harping on "equal justice" that Seemandhra has got the packages that it has been offered.
Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress is unlikely to have a pre-poll alliance with any other party. It will go to the people on the goodwill evoked by YSR and emphasize that it was the only, and the first, party to clearly state, post the Congress Working Committee resolution, that it was against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The YSR Congress hopes to win a sizeable chunk of the Seemandhra Lok Sabha seats and hopes to be in a position of reckoning, post elections, with its political options open.
For the Seemandhra Congress, it is the most gloomy picture of all. Its leaders are desperately looking to jump off what they see as a sinking ship, to any party that can give them some political space and hope for immediate future.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, who quit as chief minister over the Telangana controversy earlier this week, has not announced any new political party. With the state already divided, there are questions on what political plank he will use. Also, the ranks of those willing to sail with him at this stage seems to be dwindling, even though earlier several Seemandhra MPs, ministers and MLAs were pushing him to step out and start his own party.
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