Congress asks Telangana allies not to insist on too many seats

NEW DELHI: Faced with demands from minor parties for alliance in Telangana, Congress has suggested a solution which would not compromise on ‘winnability’ of the candidates to be fielded against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

Sources said the party had conveyed to Telugu Desam Party, Prof Kodandram’s Telangana Jana Samithi and CPI that they should not insist on contesting seats where they don’t have strong candidates as it would help the entrenched TRS and defeat their common purpose.

Instead, Congress managers have told the three outfits that they can seek their share of the spoils after the assembly elections in the form of MLCs and posts in the government. The lead partner has extended a promise of sorts that the allies’ demands for positions and for upper House nominations would be accommodated after the polls.

While seat-sharing negotiations have not yet formally started between Congress, TDP, TJS and CPI, their wishlist is on the table. Sources said TDP has asked for 25 seats, TJS has sought 15 seats while CPI has asked for six. Inside calculations suggest that TDP can contest up to 12 while the other two potential partners should limit their share to three each.

Details of a possible compromise would emerge only when the talks start, sources said.

Congress, TDP, CPI and Kodandram, who played a key role in the statehood agitation, recently announced an in-principle agreement to form an umbrella alliance to challenge TRS, which has made its pro-BJP inclinations clear.

When reached for details, Congress in-charge of Telangana affairs R C Khuntia said, “The alliance with TDP and CPI besides the party of Prof Kodandram will happen. We have agreed for an alliance in principle and have finalised a common agenda. Seat sharing talks are always complicated but will be settled”.

Congress sources said a high number of seats to the allies would help TRS. The key reason is that TJS is untested in the electoral game and the newbie contesting seats where it does not have a strong candidate would be counter productive.

Also, TDP has lost most of its elected leaders to TRS, leaving it without faces who pull in the votes.