The attempts of the opposition parties to form a Maha Kootami or grand alliance in Telangana to pull down the Telangana Rashtra Samithi from power in the coming elections seem to be in doldrums.
Apparently, the alliance partners – the TDP, the CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi are upset with the big-brother attitude of the Congress party in seat sharing.
Though they acknowledge the fact that the Congress has to be given a lion’s share in the total number of seats if it has to come to power, the three parties are not willing to surrender before the Congress for seats.
“We may not have any stakes in power. But we have our own strength; as such, we cannot compromise on our self-respect by accepting just two or three seats,” CPI leader K Sambasiva Rao said.
Apparently, the alliance partners are peeved with the Congress party which reportedly decided to give 10-15 seats to the TDP and three seats each to the CPI and the TJS.
But the TDP wants at least 20 seats, including those which it had won in the last elections, while the CPI and TJS want at least 10 seats each.
But the Congress categorically told them that it would have to contest at least 90-100 seats, if it has come to power by winning absolute majority of 60 seats on its own. It does not want to depend on the allies to form the government.
Even with regard to the selection of seats, the parties are not willing to give up their claims.
For example, TDP state president L Ramana wants to contest in Jagitial, which is represented by Congress candidate T Jeevan Reddy. In Wanaparthy, TDP wants to field Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, but the Congress wants to retain G Chinna Reddy.
In Husnabad in Siddipet district, CPI leader Chada Venkat Reddy wants to contest the elections, while Congress candidate A Praveen Reddy has already started campaign there.
But if the parties come to a compromise with the sole objective of defeating the TRS, seat sharing might not be difficult, say the Congress leaders.