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Doubts linger over TJS joining Mahakutami

Update: 2018-09-22 05:30 IST

Hyderabad: Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) is still undecided whether it would enter an alliance or contest alone in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The TJS put forward some conditions before the three political parties - the Congress, the TDP and the CPI that are in talks for forming a ‘Mahakutami’ to take on K Chandrashekar Rao led TRS.

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This includes constituting a martyrs’ agenda, with Kodandaram at helm of affairs (similar to Common Minimum Programme signed by all coalition partners in UPA-1), to fulfil the aspirations of martyrs and people involved in statehood movement. While the TDP and the CPI are okay to allow Prof Kodandaram take centre stage, the Congress is yet to declare its intentions.

According to TJS insiders, the Congress high command has not given its clearance to this proposal thus far. The national party is worried whether this sort of understanding would lead to issues on Chief Minister Post in case Mahakutami comes to power after elections.

The TJS wants Kodandaram as chairperson of the advisory panel with members from alliance parties, intellectuals and experts from various fields on board. It clarified that the Chief Minister CM post was not their focus and decision on this subject could be taken by all coalition parties after election battle was won. Although the Congress State unit was convinced about this idea after due deliberations, AICC leaders, looking after Telangana affairs, had some doubts.

The TJS sources said that one leader had doubts whether the TJS was asking a post similar to UPA Chairperson Post held by Sonia Gandhi when Congress-led alliance formed government in New Delhi.

The national party sacrificed Karnataka Chief Minister post to H D Kumarswamy, who proved to be king maker after both main parties the Congress and the BJP failed to get an absolute majority in Karnataka elections. It can be understood that the Congress wants to be doubly sure of who would get the Chief Minister post as the dominant party in the coalition and hence taking its time to arrive at a final decision.

In this backdrop, picture is still unclear on Mahakutami formation. How many parties will be involved or left in this alliance or whether the TJS would come on board will be known only in coming days.

The TJS sources said that they are expecting clarity on this issue by September 25 or end of the month at the most. After that it will decide whether to enter an alliance or contest alone. Party leaders said that TJS has worked out election strategies for 50 constituencies thus far and would try to work on remaining constituencies in the coming days.

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