The denial of the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) to merge with the Congress and giving an indication that it was open to a tie-up with other political parties sparked speculations among political leaders.
Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) Chief Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao denied a merger with the Congress on Monday.
Members of the party met in Hyderabad to discuss the matter.
Congress leader P.C. Chacko said that whether they merge or not both the parties will fight the elections together and TRS will offer all support to the party.
"Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) will merge or we will fight the election together, they both are the same. Whether they will merge after the election or will they merge before is not relevant. The position of Congress in Telangana is very strong and is very good. So the party of Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhara Rao is with us and our discussion is progressing, so there will not be any problem between TRS and Congress," said Chacko.
It was earlier hinted that the TRS - the party which was born with creation of Telangana - will merge with the Congress.
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Meanwhile, another Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, said the announcement by TRS was unfortunate and uncalled for.
"When Telangana will be given at that time our party will merge, he has openly told to Sonia Gandhi and also outside. But today he has taken a U-turn. Why has he taken a U-turn, I cannot understand but at the same time he is saying that he is making a group for discussion for alliance with any party. This is very unfortunate," said Rao.
On a day the Janata Dal (United) snubbed its alliance overtures, the Congress was dealt another blow when in the evening, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) ruled out a merger.
Furthermore, Janata Dal - United (JD-U) leader Ali Anwar said that there were no discussions of an alliance by JDU and the Congress.
"JDU of Bihar had no discussion with the Congress. We have said we have no issues if they stand together during the election as we have the ability to stand on our own," said Anwar.
Meanwhile, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Majid Memon, said that the decision taken by the regional party is an indication of political calculations of the party ahead of the general elections.
"TRS had said that in November they had told the Congress that if it solves the Telangana issue then they will merge with the Congress. But the party was not able to do that, and after two to three months during the time of elections they could do it. So TRS has said that we will merge with Congress but we will work with you and we will remain friends. Keeping in mind all the political calculations, TRS felt this was better, because merging will not be beneficial for them in future. So they decided to walk with Congress during the upcoming elections," said Memon.