Still in a quandary

The Telangana Congress appears to remain impaled on the horns of a Hamletian dilemma of whether or not to join hands with Telugu Desam Party in the ensuing elections for the Assembly in 2019. Those who support the alliance base their argument on the premise that the TDP cadres in Telangana hinterland are alive and kicking but as a subterranean activity.

The TRS spread like a conflagration in 2014, devouring the TDP but the die-hard yellow party supporters believe that embers are still smouldering unseen, holding out hope for green shoots. But those who are against the alliance wonder whether the party is there at all anywhere in the state.

After the TRS maelstrom closed in on Chandrababu Naidu in Telangana, nothing of TDP remained, not even its remnants. They argue that the TDP is a dead duck and it would be better if one leaves it to putrefy further.

But the realignment of forces at the national level holds out hope for pro-TDP activists in the Congress. An effort has begun to craft a coalition of anti-BJP parties and for developing a common minimum programme transcending the fault lines of castes, regions and religions. Chandrababu Naidu is no longer persona-non-grata for the Congress and vice-versa.

The TRS is slowly adopting a soft corner towards the saffron party, while the TDP, which is at war with the BJP, is now more interested in the Congress than the TRS which was once considered a potential force for it to latch on to.

Though it is not clear if there would be an alliance with the Congress in AP, it may have at some point down the line, not because it is a party worth its name in AP, but it is a question of quid pro quo – if the Congress accommodates the TDP in Telangana, the TDP has to do likewise in Andhra.

But those opposing friendship with the TDP argue that the TDP innards are basically anti-Congress in nature and if the Congress leaders begin hugging the yellow party leaders, the Reddy and the Dalit constituencies, which have been lending support to the party, might bid goodbye and begin looking at KCR as their next messiah. They fear TDP leaders would begin lobbying for more number of seats, upsetting the plans of host party.

The majority section in the Congress wants to have high-fives with Naidu as the Congress’ enemy – TRS – is in a redoubtable position on Telangana soil. Though it was the Congress which delivered Telangana, KCR was smart enough to walk away with the cake, denying it even a small slice.

The Congress this time, taking into account the anti-incumbency factor that is perceived to be building up, wants to storm the TRS citadel, but as the enemy is strong, it wants to have the support of allies like Naidu.  Already it is in talks with Telangana Jana Samiti to foil any division in the anti-TRS votes. It is leaving nothing to chance. Any port is a good port for a ship caught in a storm.