Pressure on Congress, TDP not to contest Telangana by-polls

Hyderabad, June 12 : Pressure is mounting on the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh against contesting the upcoming by-elections in the 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Saturday urged both parties to stay away from the poll in response to the call given by Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for separate statehood to Telangana. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao told reporters that JAC was working to protect the self-respect of Telangana people and hence all the political parties should abide by its decision. JAC convenor M.Kodandaram said the JAC was not afraid of a contest if Congress and Telugu Desam Party entered the fray. A day after appealing to both Congress and TDP not to contest the by-polls, he said JAC was ready for a contest if it becomes inevitable. He, however, said if Congress and TDP field their candidates, it would amount to a betrayal of the Telangana cause. The TRS is the main constituent of JAC while Telangana leaders of both Congress party and TDP quit the apex body following differences with Kodandaram. The JAC was formed by pro-Telangana groups for a united struggle for Telangana state after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided to put on hold its Dec 9 statement to initiate the process for formation of separate state. The statement was made after 11-day hunger strike by Chandrasekhara Rao. Elections to 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana are scheduled to be held in August. The vacancies were caused in February this year when 10 legislators of TRS quit over the demand for separate Telangana state. One legislator each of the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also quit. The by-elections are seen as a major test for both the Telangana slogan and the popularity of TRS. The sub-regional party has already declared that those contesting against its candidates in 10 constituencies would be traitors to Telangana. Meanwhile, serious differences have cropped up both in the Congress party and the TDP over contesting the by-polls with their leaders from Telangana strongly opposing the move. Congress' state unit has left the decision to the central leadership while a discussion is on in the TDP.
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