The Congress, Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and the CPI have formed an alliance in Telangana, where assembly polls are expected to take place later this year. The leaders of the three parties met the Governor on Tuesday evening and demanded that the state - where assembly has been dissolved - be placed under the President's Rule.
Keen on holding elections by the end of this year, Chief Minister Mr Rao had got the assembly dissolved last week - nearly a year ahead of time. He has been appointed the caretaker Chief Minister till the elections are announced.
"Fair and free elections not possible if KCR continues as the chief minister," the party leaders said. "We will approach the Supreme Court against Telangana being forced into early elections".
The state Congress, which has accused the Chief Minister of being a stooge of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initially said the election cannot be held this year since a process of revision of electoral rolls is underway.
The Election Commission, however, stopped the roll revision to make way for elections by the year-end. Under the rules, elections must be held in a state within six months of the assembly dissolution of the assembly.
The BJP has said it would go it alone in the election, putting an end to the buzz about a secret understanding between the party and the Chief Minister.
Party leaders even said Mr Rao was keen on holding elections by the year-end to prevent any possibility of his pitch being swamped by the BJP campaign focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of next year's national elections.
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