Samiti plans to block poaching of legislators

Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has evolved a plan to foil any attempt by other parties to poach on members of the state assembly and parliament after the results.

Taking precautionary measures, Rao has decided to keep his flock out of the reach of others. Under the plan, all the party candidates for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections have been asked to reach the party headquarters, Telangana Bahvan, a day before the counting of votes on May 16 and remain there till the party takes a final call on what position to take in case of a hung parliament and hung assembly.

To make the stay of these candidates comfortable, about 40 rooms were being furnished on the first floor of Telangana Bhavan. New air conditioners were being installed in the rooms, each of which will have a television set to keep them informed about the latest political situation.

Rao has taken the step as he was convinced that the results will throw up a hung assembly and parliament in which there will be a great demand for smaller parties such as the TRS.

As per TRS assessment, it will have more than 25 MLAs and at least five Lok Sabha members and will play a major role in the formation of the next governments both in the state and at the centre.

Though TRS has been a partner in the Grand Alliance, he has already made it clear that Telugu Desam cannot take its support for granted. Rao has sent a clear message that he was available for bargaining even to the Congress as well as to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the price list will be headed by the demand for Telagnana state.

Though under pressure from various quarters, Rao has postponed his visit to New Delhi, the party has opened channels of communication with the BJP led National Democratic Alliance.