Grand Alliance has astrology, lacks ideology'

Express News Service
First Published : 03 Feb 2009 03:46:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 03 Feb 2009 02:20:23 PM IST

HYDERABAD: Dismissing the impact of the Grand Alliance (GA) in the next elections, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Monday ridiculed its constituents for having no ‘ideology’ but only `astrology’.

He said some parties were banking on the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) without knowing that the TRS base had eroded in the region.

In an informal chat with reporters at the lobbies of the Assembly Monday, Rajasekhara Reddy took potshots at the announcement of the GA based on a ‘muhurtam’ fixed by TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao’s astrologer, albeit in an indirect fashion. Rajasekhara Reddy said, “They (Grand Alliance) have only `siddhantulu’ (astrologers) and do not have any `siddhantalu’ (ideologies)”.

The Chief Minister said the Congress would win more than 240 Assembly seats in the next elections. Till now he had been saying that the Congress would secure 230 seats, but after the formation of the GA, he has increased the tally by 10 seats.

Substantiating his argument, Rajasekhara Reddy said the TRS vote bank was shifting to the the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in the Telangana region.

He said the TRS was weakened in Assembly segments like Husnabad, Nerella and Ramagundam in Karimnagar district. The TRS vote bank had come down to 4.5 per cent in Nizamabad district. “TRS is non-existent now,” he remarked. He further said the Telangana sentiment and the TRS had no connection. The TRS leadership had already lost its credibility, he added.

On separate Telangana, Rajasekhara Reddy said, “I won’t and can’t express my feelings. I can only repeat the stand announced by the party high command.” On PCC chief D Srinivas’ demand that the Congress should announce its stand on Telangana before the Assembly elections, the Chief Minister said the high command would consider that suggestion too. The party’s stand would be indicated in the manifesto, he said.

On the other hand, the Congress successfully increased its vote bank.

“There is a shift of five to seven per cent positive votes towards the Congress,” he said.

Rajasekhara Reddy also refused to accept that the PRP was strong in five coastal districts. “Of the 68 Assembly seats in Srikakulam to West Godavari districts, the PRP may win eight to ten seats. The TDP can manage three to four seats at the most,” he said. He, however, admitted that some youths from the Kapu caste would be attracted by the PRP. But, it was not the Congress which would at the receiving end. “Kapus are with the TDP in the twin Godavari districts and are with the Congress in Krishna and Guntur,” he reasoned.

The TDP can open its account in the next elections in only one district in Rayalaseema. It could not open its account in other three districts, he said.

He averred that the Congress’ position was strong in Telangana except in parts of Medak and Adilabad districts. He said the Congress was strong in parts of Khammam and Warangal too. He asserted the Congress would win all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rayalaseema and Andhra areas. He further said the TDP would get 10 to 15 Assembly in Andhra and Rayalaseema and the PRP would have to be satisfied with ten seats.

Asked about the setback in the recent by-elections to the ZPTCs, the Chief Minister said local factors had been influential. He, however, hastened to add that nothing could be taken lightly in love and war.