According to media reports, the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress party are in the process of forming a coalition ahead of the upcoming Telangana state assembly elections. The Congress party has requested TDP to join them in the ‘Dharma Yuddham” (holy war) against the incumbent Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in the state. The Congress wants a united opposition against the TRS in Telangana. In order to achieve this objective, the party has formed a committee headed by Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, senior party leaders K Jana Reddy, working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Mohammed Ali Shabbir. The committee will explore the possibilities of alliance against the TRS. They have already held several discussions on the issue and today they are going to meet with the TDP leaders, Chandrababu Naidu is also scheduled to attend the meeting. TDP supremo, Chandrababu Naidu has been flirting with the Congress ever since he divorced NDA.
The alliance between the Congress and the TDP is likely to face several roadblocks. First, they are natural enemies in the adjoining state of Andhra Pradesh where TDP holds power. TDP would never agree to a coalition in Andhra Pradesh with the Congress, and enemies at home and friends outside doesn’t really work in Indian politics.
Secondly, seat sharing would be a big issue between the two parties. There is a huge dissonance between what TDP wants and what the Congress is willing to offer. According to a One India report, the Congress party is willing to give 15 seats to the TDP, but the TDP’s demand is to be allotted more seats. TDP wants at least 40 seats in Telangana, where it claims that it has a very strong presence. In the 2014 Telangana assembly elections, the TDP secured victory over 15 assembly seats.
TDP aligning with a party which divided Andhra Pradesh might finally turn out to be the final nail in the coffin for Chandrababu Naidu. He is joining hands with the same party which kicked him out of his dream city, Hyderabad. Popular leader from NDP and former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao fought against the Congress and its politics till his last breath. He must be turning in his grave due to the actions of his son-in-law, Chandrababu Naidu who is responsible for the degradation of TDP. His alliance with the Congress goes against the core political philosophy of the TDP. Walking out of the NDA was a big blunder committed by Naidu and now forming an opportunistic alliance with the Congress is his second biggest blunder.
We will witness similar episodes again and again over the next few months throughout the country if a Mahagathbandhan is able to establish itself. Old rivals will join hands for their cheap political gains. Parties will come together in some states but would continue to contest against each other in other states. Parties fighting over seat sharing, keeping their ideologies at stake and leaving behind their core beliefs and principles etc. Basically, this Mahagathbandhan plan is just a get together of the cabal of opportunist and unprincipled politicians and nothing more. It’s going to be a huge flop show if and when it finally sees the light of the day.