Ludhiana:
The presence of K Chandrashekhar at the NDA rally in Punjab on Sunday is a coup by the BJP.
Because, just a few weeks ago, the TRS chief seemed to be part of the Third Front, even attending Mayawati's dinner. "Not only will we wholeheartedly support the NDA, we will also try and bring in some friends," he says.
The Telangana Rashtriya Samiti's main demand is a separate Telangana state to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh. Whoever promises that will get Rao's support.
Just a few days ago, the TRS fought the elections with the Left parties and TDP. Says TDP leader M Yerran Naidu: "At the state level they are with us."
But Sunday's rally is a setback to the Left. CPM chief Prakash Karat says: "After May 16 let us see what they do." CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, however, feels: "I don't think he (Rao) has left us. We are committed to Telangana as well."
While the Left is nervous, the TRS-NDA rally has left the Third Front open to fresh attack. Says Congress chief Sonia Gandhi: "This front will collapse like a house of a pack of cards."