Rahul Gandhi likely to take on TRS over support to NDA

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his two-day visit to Hyderabad from August 13. “The TRS’s support to NDA candidate has again proved that KCR’s party is an undeclared ally of the BJP,” Telangana Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. But TRS dismissed the suggestion. “...they should understand that the fight was not between the Congress and BJP. The candidate was from (Bihar chief minister) Nitish Kumar’s party. We consider Nitish Kumar a secular person and he had called our leader (KCR). That does not mean we have gone with the BJP. That is a wrong notion,” TRS leader A P Jithender Reddy said. “...who are they (Congress) to say that we have gone with the BJP? We have always maintained that TRS will give issue-based support to the BJP. Whenever they (government) are right, we support them. When they are wrong, we oppose them.” Gandhi is expected to attack the TRS government over its “failures”. “The entry of AIMIM into the poll fray in Maharashtra clearly established Owaisi’s intention to divide secular vote to give BJP a clear advantage. His double speak stands exposed,” said Congress leader M Shashidhar Reddy. “The Muslims of Karnataka did not vote for the Janata Dal (Secular) because of Owaisi. In Telangana, AIMIM is with TRS and TRS is clearly with the BJP. Congress must directly reach out to the Muslims and wean them away from the AIMIM.” Owaisi is unruffled. “Even Amit Shah (BJP chief) is trying his level best for Hyderabad parliamentary constituency. So, Rahul Gandhi is also visiting now. Let them keep trying.” -PTC News