A series of crucial developments in the last one week in Telangana appears to indicate changing political equations as the State heads for the Assembly elections on November 30.
It all started with Telangana TDP president Kasani Gnaneshwar announcing the party’s decision not to contest the elections after his meeting with TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was then in Rajahmundry jail in connection with the Skill Development scam. Mr. Gnaneshwar then quit the party only to join the BRS, leaving the TDP ‘rudderless’ ahead of the polls.
YSR Telangana Party chief Y.S. Sharmila too, followed suit and announced her party’s decision not to contest the elections. Her decision is a big ‘climbdown’ as she held a number of talks with AICC leaders to demand her pound of flesh. She then agreed to merge the party but even that did not materialise. After failing to secure any specific assurance, she threatened to field candidates in all the 119 constituencies and finally took a U-turn to completely stay away from polls.
