All parties hail TDP’s pro-Telangana stand

HYDERABAD: All the political parties, including the ruling Congress, today welcomed the Opposition Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) pro-Telangana stand.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief D Srinivas described the TDP’s decision as good augury. He, however, was skeptical of the TDP taking a decision just before elections. The TDP had taken the decision now, only for the sake of elections, the PCC chief said and added that the TDP could have taken the decision three years back.

TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao said Vijaya Dasami Day had brought victory to Telangana forces.Welcoming the TDP’s decision, he said now the Congress State leadership had to bring pressure on its high command for a separate Telangana.

BJP senior leader Ch Vidyasagar Rao too welcomed the decision. He said it was now time for all the pro- Telangana parties to unite to defeat the Congress. He wished that a Bill be introduced in the present Parliament to realise separate Telangana before 2009.

Senior Congress leader Palvai Govardhan Reddy termed the TDP’s decision as sheer opportunism. The TDP’s decision was only to bag some seats and garner votes in the next elections, he said.

TDP leader K Srihari termed the decision as ‘historic’ and said separate Telangana was now very much possible. Though some leaders in the party had opposed the decision initially, later, they decided to respect the party’s policy, he added.

CPI State secretary K Narayana too welcomed the TDP’s decision. He said the CPI had already taken a similar stand long back. He, however, evaded a direct reply whether his party would work with the TDP in the next elections.