Telangana: TJS decision to slug it out alone in 2019 elections has more than it meets the eye

HYDERABAD: At the launch of Telangana Jana Samithi, TJAC chairman M Kodandaram has assertively said that the new party will go it alone in the elections and will not join hands with other parties or will be part of an alliance.Many a political observer wonders as to what made the TJS, which would be fighting its first election in 2019, be so assertive.

Sources in the newly-floated party, which is yet to take shape fully, are of the view that they stand apart from other political parties in the fray as they are new to the political arena. “Unlike the Congress and TRS (which ruled the state) and the BJP (which is in power at the Centre), the TJS is new to state politics and people are likely to look at it with new hope,’’ a leader associated with the party said.

The party leaders are of the view that during their interaction with masses, they came across animosity towards the ruling party and also the previous ruling parties for failing to address the problems of the youth and farmers.Sources also indicated that Kodandaram’s assertion to go it alone in the 2019 elections would not go well with the Congress.

“Congress leaders, during their several interactions with Kodandaram, did not want the TJAC to take shape as a party as they feared that the anti-incumbency vote would be split. As Kodandaram went ahead with floating the party, a section of Congress leaders made light of the development and the TJAC chairman now wants to show them what the TJS can do,’’ a leader said. It is also said that the announcement will make the Congress to come to terms with TJS and if an alliance is forged, it will be the TJS, not the grand old party, that will dictate the terms.

Party flag launched

Kodandaram launched the new party’s flag and publicity material on Wednesday. He said the blue colour in the flag signifies victory and the green signifies development and progress.