Telangana Congress is walking on a tightrope on a possible alliance with the Left parties and also the YSR Telangana party headed by Y.S. Sharmila for the Assembly elections as strong contenders within the party are worried about losing seats to the alliance parties.
YSRTP chief Y.S. Sharmila is under tremendous pressure from her party colleagues to contest on her own if the Congress party doesn’t respond positively, either for a merger or leaving a few seats. Congress too understands that in a tight election, even a couple of thousands of votes matter, and it knows Ms. Sharmila can hurt the chances of the Congress in certain constituencies.
Congress too is not ruling out the merger as of now, and the channels are still open, but the only problem is Ms. Sharmila herself contesting on a Congress ticket. “Political compulsions are forcing us not to take any decision on the merger, though we know we don’t want to lose even those few thousands of votes that her party might poll,” a senior leader seeking anonymity said.
