TRS keen on early polls to stop Congress consolidation

HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's desperate moves to advance the assembly polls in the state stems out of two scenarios staring at him: One, the growing anti-incumbency factor and consolidation of the Congress, and two, an astrological dread that 2019 as compared to 2018 may not be the best time for the TRS in the hustings.

According to sources, the ground reports that the TRS supremo is getting is pointing to consolidation of the Congress. "Despite the sudden showering of sops to various communities and groups in the last few weeks, KCR's apprehension is that if elections are held as per schedule in April-May 2019, the Congress could galvanise itself to put up a better show and make it that much more a difficult fight for the pink party. KCR probably doesn't want to give an iota of a chance for the Congress to gain in the state, even if marginally. Thus he prefers assembly polls in December itself giving an edge to the TRS," said party sources.

Also, a theory put forth by some analysts suggested that KCR might be thinking in terms of some alliance or strategy for Parliamentary polls differently from the Assembly polls, so TRS gets to gain more seats in the Lok Sabha elections. For example, if TRS decides to galvanise a Federal Front he has been talking about, it would be easier for him to do so if Parliamentary elections are held seperately. While Congress is his principal opposition in Telangana, leaders of other regional parties like Mamata Banerjee and M K Stalin, are pushing KCR to come on board in an alliance which will include the Congress.