Hyderabad, Nov 17: With political parties in Andhra Pradesh racing against time to gear up for snap polls, the growing demand for Telangana statehood appears set to play a key role in defining the shape of political alignments in the state. Accounting for 107 assembly seats in the 294-member assembly, the backward Telangana region, witnessing a renewed movement for statehood, is emerging as a potential ground for political re-alignments with the main opposition Congress indicating its willingness to have electoral tie-ups with other parties to avoid a split in anti-NDA votes.

However, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), fighting for statehood cause, made it clear that there would be no alliance with Congress unless it comes out with a "clear-cut statement in support of Telangana statehood."

"We are now the dominating force in Telangana, symbolising the aspirations of the region. We can think of a tie-up with Congress only if it supports statehood cause," TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao told news agencies here today.
Rao, who had quit TDP two years ago to lead the movement for Telangana statehood, asserted that there was a clear polarisation in the region on the statehood issue.

While asserting that his party's doors were open on the issue of forging political alliances, Rao, a former minister in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet, said there would be no compromise on the issue of separate state for Telangana.

Bureau Report