Political Diary

The Mahakutami of the Telugu Des-am, the TRS and the Left parties finally reached an accord on seat sharing on Tuesday, but not before the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) left everyone on tenterhooks by threatening to walk out of the coalition. After some hurried dipl-omacy by the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Nai-du, the TRS agreed to a share of 48 Assembly seats out of 119 seats in the Telangana region and nine Lok Sabha seats out of 17. The CPI(M) and the CPI will contest 16 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats each.

The TRS will contest from Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Adilabad, Nagarkurnool, Malkajgiri and Secunderabad Lok Sabha seats. Of the total 294 Assembly seats in the state, the TD would contest from 214 assembly seats. It will also field candidates from 29 Lok Sabha seats. The TRS may have to allot three seats to the Majlis Bachao Tehreek in the Old City leaving the party with 45 Assembly seats. There could be some changes before a formal announcement on Wednesday.

There were tense moments in the Mahakutami camp on Monday night and Tuesday after Mr Rao threatened to quit the alliance complaining that his party was not being given the rightful share. The TRS also made the threat public through selective leaks to the media and Mr Chandrasekhar Rao called a press meet at 2.30 pm to make an ‘important announcement’. However, Mr Naidu sent a close confidante, Mr C.M. Ramesh, as emissary to the TRS president to pacify him. Following this, the press meet was cancelled and TRS leaders went to Mr Naidu’s residence. Though Mr Rao had the last laugh, Mr Naidu and other party leaders are upset at his behaviour.

Meanwhile, Asifabad MLA, Sridevi, is upset over Bellampally segment being given to the Left parties. Sources said she is planning to quit the party. Similarly, senior TD leader, E. Dayakar Rao, is also upset since Palakurti seat, from which he wanted to contest, has been allotted to the TRS.