State alliance, national ambition

The Congress tie-up with the TDP in Telangana is a preview of 2019

Tfour Rajasthan, — the a and national due Congress, resources more high around its revival, command states Chhattisgarh elangana move nine gamble. main position. which the to Telangana. months — opposition same to will dissolve Madhya has It would With Chief was not time, a and ahead big be elections meant be Mr Minister the Mr Congress Mizoram Pradesh, stake able tied Rao state Rao of to down to schedule, in may may to devote assembly spring those K and Chandrashekar have fighting have prevent elections the a was thought been and surprise same other a opt it hoping calculated if from attention for the it battles. on wants Rao’s polls, Congress consolidating that the

political the form However, Telugu but a challenge ‘Maha its speed Desam opponents Kootami’, India’s and to Mr Party nimbleness Grand Rao’s by a grand and surprise. Telangana Old the alliance which Party Communist It quickly has Rashtra has which caught shown joined Party can Samithi not pose a hands of degree just India a (TRS). formidable with analysts to of The such There new as is the putting alliance are CPM three together and is reasons even the Telangana trying will why be the to watched rope grand Jana in Samithi alliance closely. a few other One, that (TJS) partners the the . Congress fact that part open the of embrace the TDP alliance (which of the carries Congress was born a symbolism will on an be anti-Congress observed which is carefully hard platform), to by miss. other Its is regional similar parties to the across TDP’s. the Second country. is the Several Congress’s of them newfound carry legacies flexibility with and its even willingness small parties to walk such the as extra the CPI, mile the to forge CPM partnerships and the TJS. This, and the fact that it is ready to be accommodative in seat allocations towards its allies, contrasts sharply with a strident BJP which is trying to elbow itself in to the territory of its own partners. Finally, irrespective of the eventual outcome of the election in which the TRS has had a head start, this alliance could provide a national template in which the Congress could opt for state-specific alliances to form a broad anti-BJP front.