Cong waits to hit back after TRS chief remark

While Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has since effected a truce between the state party and TRS for now, and Rao has also termed his remark unintended, the Congress high command is set to review its relationship with TRS after Sonia’s return from Rae Bareli.

Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who met Singh and AICC treasurer Moti Lal Vora today, said the high command is ‘‘seized of the matter’’. It would discuss the issue once Sonia returns from her constituency.

Pending the review, the Congress is keeping its options open on the Siddipet Assembly by-election. Stakes are high for Rao there because the bypoll has been caused by his resignation following his simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha . Two, Rao’s nominee from the constituency could be his nephew T. Harish Rao, who has to get elected to the Assembly to retain his berth in the YSR Cabinet.

Asked if the Congress would leave the seat for TRS, YSR said the matter would be ‘‘discussed along side (the Rao remark issue)’’. Digvijay Singh was also non-committal on the party stand over Siddipet.

He sought to downplay Rao’s remark, saying: ‘‘I think it is a case of bad translation.’’ However, YSR did not seem inclined to forgive or forget what Rao had said. Asked if it is a closed chapter now, he said: ‘‘Whatever has been said, has been said. History cannot be rubbed away.’’

The Rao remark aside, both sides cannot avoid a clear choice for too long as is evident from a public ultimatum served by Union Minister A. Narendra on the Congress on reviewing its alliance, if the Centre does not take any decision on the Telangana issue by December-end. Reddy, too, has termed the ultimatum ‘‘most welcome’’.

Rao is obviously looking forward to the assumption of chief ministership of the new state, while Congress can be trusted not to afford him either the credit for the formation of Telangana (if at all it is formed) or its chief ministership.

But then, the Congress has to keep its coalition at the Centre afloat. This larger consideration demands that the party does not let its allies slip away. The choice is, therefore, between swallowing its pride and Rao’s remark or endangering the alliance.