Congress hopeful of alliance with TRS

• Digvijay says it’s for KCR to merge his party
• Hopes even if tie-up does not happen, KCR will be with UPA
• Speaks to Keshava Rao and discusses seat sharing
• Congress willing to give only 3 LS, 40-45 Assembly seats

New Delhi: AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijay Singh has declared that the Congress is still open to an alliance with the TRS. Singh tweeted on Wednesday morning, “We are happy on 2nd June dream of Statehood for Telangana will come true, now we must fulfill the promises made to Telangana & Seemandhra.”

On the issue of TRS ruling out a merger with Congress, Digvijay Singh posted that, “TRS ruling out merger is an issue with them. Would have welcomed merger, as it was promised. We are open for an alliance also.” He also rejected accusations of policy paralysis within the Congress-led UPA Government.

“Our government has brought the maximum number of Bills and you say there's policy paralysis,” he said.

Meanwhile, PCC vice-president Shabbir Ali called on Singh and discussed the issue with him. Singh is understood to have spoken to TRS leader K Keshava Rao over phone. Sources claim that the TRS wants Congress to concede five Lok Sabha seats, but the Congress is willing to offer only 3 seats. As far as the Assembly is concerned TRS is demanding 75 seats, while the Congress is not prepared to give more than 40 or 45 seats.

The Congress it may be mentioned here is struggling to define its role in Telangana. The party feels that it should win over the people taking full credit for according Telangana state in the event of Congress and the TRS contesting separately. However, the party leadership feels that if they have to it alone then it would divide the pro-Telangana vote.

Digvijay Singh said that TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao has set up a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of Keshav Rao and expressed satisfaction over the development. Even if TRS goes it alone, it will remain in UPA, he said.