KCR rules out pre-poll alliances

TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has drawn up a twin strategy to keep the party on top despite any outcome in the fastapproaching elections.

Mr Rao hinted that if the TRS enters into any understanding with the BJP ahead of the elections, it would only benefit the Congress, the main Opposition in the state. He is of the opinion that the party should not take any step which could benefit the Congress.

Four independent surveys ordered by Mr Rao on the prospects of the TRS and other parties revealed that the main fight in most of the constituenices would be between the TRS and Congress. His stand against any pre-poll alliance with the BJP comes in this backdrop.

Mr Rao felt that the BJP has a base only in the GHMC limits but any tie up with the party would impact the TRS’ minority vote bank in all the districts, where BJP has no major presence.

Sources said the CM was of the opinion that there should be ‘friendly contests’ with the MIM as it does not enter into any prepoll or post-poll alliances. The TRS would field candidates only for namesake in the Old City without taking up any campaigning by any top party leader.

According to party sources, Mr Rao started working seriously on the twin strategy on the advice of JDS chief and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda who recently met him in Pragathi Bhavan and advised him to forge any front only after the poll results are out.

Mr Gowda told Mr Rao that no front would be possible prior to polls; they can be a reality only after the results are out as had happened in Karnataka where the JDS and the Congress joined hands to form government though the BJP secured more seats.