Telangana action panel questions TRS candidate choices

The induction of a former supporter of YSR Congress Party, Konda Surekha, who had quit as minister after Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was not made chief minister, has come under severe criticism. “We do not want leaders who worked against Telangana to be given a ticket by TRS. It will belittle the sacrifices made for the cause,” Kodandaram said.

The TJAC is also opposed to MLAs, MLCs and leaders of other parties — new entrants to TRS — being given tickets. “They have joined TRS only to salvage their political careers. Tickets should be given to those who really fought for Telangana,’’ another leader said.

The TRS is having a rethink on fighting elections alone after reports suggested that Telugu Desam Party and CPI have gained some ground in several constituencies. The party, which spurned the Congress demand for an alliance, is now believed to be in talks with CPI.

In a setback to TRS, Congress MP from Peddapalli, Gaddam Vivekanand, who joined TRS in June last year to protest the delay over creation of Telangana, is going back to Congress. In a statement issued here, Vivekanand said he had quit Congress and joined TRS to fight for Telangana. “Now that we have achieved that objective, there is no reason to remain in TRS,” Vivek said.

Meanwhile, at a meeting in Delhi, BJP and TDP sealed a seat-sharing deal for Telangana. The BJP will contest 45 assembly and 8 Lok Sabha seats. The arrangement for the rest of Andhra will be finalised by Wednesday, according to TDP sources.

In another blow to Congress in Andhra, four-time Congress MP from Guntur, Rayapaty Sambasiva Rao, joined Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday.