Cong, TRS number game is all about numerology

Looks like there is a lot of numerology involved in deciding the alliance between the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Congress in Andhra Pr...

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Looks like there is a lot of numerology involved in deciding the alliance between the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Congress in Andhra Pradesh. The alliance is almost finalised and both are set to contest an equal number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

While the bargaining between the two sides were carefully scheduled for auspicious days and birthdays of senior leaders, the TRS has been negotiating for its ‘‘lucky number’’ of seats, which unfortunately for the Congress happens to be six.

The Congress said today that an agreement has been reached ‘‘in principle’’ whereby the TRS, which has been insisting on six seats, would get five LS seats.

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According to sources, the Congress has left Nizamabad, Adilabad, Hanumakonda, Karimnagar and Medak for the TRS. However, if the TRS continues to insist on their ‘‘lucky number’’, the Congress may be compelled to part with the Hyderabad LS seat, which is being held now by the Majlis Ithehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM), one of the six seats in the state dominated by Muslims.

The Telangana region consists of 10 districts which, in turn, comprise 14 Lok Sabha seats. At present, the Congress accounts for only five MPs of the total 42 elected from the state. Of the total 294 Assembly seats, 107 fall in this region and the Congress currently holds 41 seats.

The Congress is also holding talks on seat adjustments with the Left and it is learnt that the Bhadrachalam Lok Sabha seat could go to the CPI(M) while Nalgonda may go to the CPI.