TRS lukewarm to Telangana March plan

The September 30 Telangana March called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) may not get full throttle support from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), what with the differences between TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao and TJAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram reaching a flash point.

TRS leader B Vinod, while referring to the Telangana March, said Wednesday that TJAC and TRS were two different entities and therefore the TRS need not endorse and support all the decisions taken by them. “TJAC is a coalition of Telangana parties and organisations. It is in fact apolitical. But TRS is a registered political party and has its own way of attending to the problems of the people,” he said.

Vinod’s statement is being interpreted as a declaration of the official stand of the TRS vis a vis the TJAC and has raised the speculation that the party may not support the Telangana March. “KCR does not want to precipitate anything. He wants the issue to continue to smoulder but Kodandaram wants and works for getting an outcome from an event. This is where both the leaders differ,” one TRS leader said.

However, Prof Kodandaram denied that there are any differences with KCR or the TRS. “TRS and BJP are part of the TJAC. We will continue our movement for Telangana under TJAC with active cooperation from both the parties,” he said.

But of late, both the leaders are not being seen together and KCR is reportedly telling the organisers of any function that he would not attend if Kodandaram is also invited. According to sources, KCR is keen on promoting TNGO former president K Swami Goud and want him to head the TJAC.

The differences between them began when Prof Kodandaram contemplated the Million March in 2011. KCR did not like the idea as the March was likley to make Kodandaram a hero. During the event, KCR had attended the protest only towards the end and his visit was considered perfunctory.