The very thought of a hung state Assembly is making the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s camp uneasy. Congress circles are apprehensive that a coalition partner, in all likelihood the Praja Rajyam, will strictly object to Dr Rajasekhar Reddy as the Chief Minister.
Given the earlier coalition experience of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti with the Congress in which the Chief Minister and his close aide, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, were accused of engineering a split, a new coalition partner will be afraid of the duo wielding power again, a senior Congress leader pointed out.
Though the Chief Minister’s camp is confident that the party will cross the magic figure, it is also worried over surprising results emerging out of a triangular contest. “It all depends on how many seats we win and how many we still need,” said sources close to the Chief Minister.
Congress circles look at the Praja Rajyam as the possible post-poll partner in case of a hung Assembly. Interestingly, the Telugu Desam views the PR targeting it more than the Congress as a move with a foresight. The TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has openly expressed displeasure over Chiranjeevi going soft on the Congress.
The Congress leaders say the party will manage to reach the magic figure if the required numbers are in the range of 10-20 with parties like the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) extending support. The independents and rebels, if any, will also be of help.“
The problem will arise if the party requires more than 30 seats,” a Congress leader said adding that the party would also face problems if the Praja Rajyam crosses 50-60 seat mark. They opine that the party may stake claim to form the government and seek outside support from the Congress. The Lok Sabha seats which the PR will win will determine the support of the Congress which might be needing them at the Centre.
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