TRS dumps Third Front, moves closer to NDA

New Delhi: The Third Front seems to be collapsing with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) moving closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and signalling a major post-poll realignments.

The Grand Alliance or Mahakutami is falling apart in Andhra Pradesh, signalling the first major cracks in the Third Front with the TRS preferring the NDA over the Third Front and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

"Akali Dal has been supporting us and separate Telanga state for the last many years. It has openly, categorically given an open letter to the Pranab Mukherjee committee supporting Telangana. In these circumstances definitely we are going to support the Akali Dal at the rally. We will address the rally," said TRS MP and leader B Vinod Kumar.

The TRS has been distrustful of both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress as it was alarmed at the possibility of the TDP dumping it if it is in a position to form the government on its own in Andhra Pradesh.

That is why TRS is displaying its admiration for the BJP policy on creating new states. But the TDP believes the partnership is still not over.

"As a political party you can't dictate terms. We are hopeful. We are all united and one. Chandrashekhar Rao (TRS Chief K Chandrashekhar Rao) is also interested in the state os separate Telangana," said TDP leader K Yerran Naidu.

For the Left which even on Saturday insisted that were no dissensions within and that a non-BJP, non-Congress government would be ruling in Delhi within the next fortnight it is a major jolt.

Now, there are fears that fence-sitters like J Jayalalithaa and H D Deve Gowda will also consider walking out of the front. But the Left put up a brave front

"Till other day TRS was very much with the Front in Andhra Pradesh. But if now they are going to join the NDA rally... it is up to them," said CPI leader Atul Anjaan.

It is the first major realignment of the 2009 Lok Sabha election and in the next week many more such crossover and switching of loyalties are expected.

(With inputs from Preeti Singh and Seemi Pasha)

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