Telangana Political JAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram has said that either the TRS or BJP should contest in Parakala as votes of Telangana protagonists would be split if both parties contested.
The TJAC steering committee met here on Saturday and discussed about the “adamant” attitude of both the TRS and BJP to contest in Parakala as they did in Mahbubnagar by-election earlier.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Kodandaram said that he would talk to both the parties and try to convince them on the need for fielding only one Telangana candidate. He said that district JACs would work only in accordance with the directions and decisions of the State JAC. He denied reports that the Warangal JAC had decided to support the BJP. Kodandaram also dismissed reports that the BJP leaders had walked out of the steering committee meeting halfway through. He said they left only after the meeting was over.
Asked about TRS MP Vijaya Shanti’s statement that TJAC should only support TRS candidate in Parakala, Kodandaram has said there was nothing wrong in TRS or BJP leaders demanding JAC’s support. However, in view of the possibility of split of votes, JAC would try to prevail upon them to field only one candidate.
TRS BOYCOTTS MEETING
Confirming the differences between the TRS and the JAC, the former has abstained from the steering committee meeting. Angered by the attitude of the TRS, the BJP leaders had also walked out of the meeting. BJP leaders participated in the meeting as they were told that TRS leaders would be attending the meeting.
When the TRS abstained, the BJP also chose to boycott the meeting. However, Kodandaram explained that TRS leaders said they were unable to attend the JAC meeting because they had their own internal meeting. He said they sought permission for their absence.
It may be mentioned here that TRS MP Vijaya Shanti has voiced her party’s strong demand that JAC should only support TRS in the Parakala by-election. She also warned the JAC not to take wrong decisions and place itself in a position where people would question it. She said that BJP’s victory in Mahbubnagar by-election was just providential and it had led the BJP leaders to become overconfident. (NSS)