TRS not to insist on Bhongir Lok Sabha seat

Express News Service
First Published : 04 Mar 2009 03:52:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 04 Mar 2009 11:36:33 AM IST

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has decided not to insist on the Bhongir Lok Sabha seat. It initially thought of fielding its secretary general Vijayasanti from Bhongir. With both the Left parties insisting on the same seat, the TRS softened its stand.

According to TDP sources, the TRS may field Vijayasanti from the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat and TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao may shift to the Medak Lok Sabha seat. Rao secured the Karimnagar seat with a narrow majority in the recent by-elections. However, the differences over other Assembly seats among the Grand Alliance partners are yet to be sorted out. The Grand Alliance partners, who met last night, decided to meet again today. But, the meeting was postponed.

According to a broad understanding reached among the TDP, the TRS, the CPM and the CPI -- the Left parties would contest two Lok Sabha seats each apart from 15 Assembly seats each.

“We are offering 15 Assembly seats each to the CPM and the CPI. After finalising the Lok Sabha seats, the Left parties may get two or three more Assembly seats,"said a TDP leader.

Meanwhile, the TRS will contest around 45 Assembly seats and nine Lok Sabha seats. “The TRS is particular about Lok Sabha seats and is not insisting on the number of Assembly seats,” TDP sources said.

With regard to the Bhongir seat, the two Left parties decided to approach their respective national committees to settle the matter. With this, the major player in the Grand Alliance — the TDP — will contest around 220 Assembly and 29 Lok Sabha seats. The Grand Alliance leaders may meet again tomorrow. But, the time has not yet been fixed.

According to sources, today’s meeting was cancelled as the TRS was unhappy with the attitude of other allies over allotting certain seats to it.