The misery of the Congress deepened today courtesy Telangana, where 12 of its 18 state legislators joined Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS. The merger has been accepted by the Speaker. Because the Congress lawmakers who joined KCR form a group so large (two-third of the party's current strength), they have circumvented being disqualified under anti-defection laws.