TRS hopes to capatalise on “Cash for Post” controversy

Hyderabad, June 7 : The Telangana Rashtra Samithi is trying hard to capatalise the ongoing dissent within the Congress party over “Cash for Post” controversy involving former PCC Chief D Srinivas.

According to sources, the TRS is in touch with some Congress MLCs who have expressed dissatisfaction over the way Srinivas was elected as the Congress floor leader in Telangana Legislative Council. It may be mentioned that Congress MLC Rajalingam came out in open alleging that Srinivas offered him Rs 10 lakh bribe to support his candidature. Several MLCs and other leaders are unhappy with the inaction by the Congress High Command on Rajalingam’s allegations. Therefore, the TRS is now trying to capatalise the dissent by inviting those leaders to join it.

“There will be no future if they continue to work under tainted leaders. Therefore, we are asking them (Congress leaders) to join the TRS to work along with us for the development of Telangana,” a senior TRS leader said while admitting that party’s ‘Operation Aakarshan’ was aimed at tapping the unhappy leaders of Congress party. “Those who joined us from other parties are not only happy, but they have been given prominence and important posts. Unlike Congress, there is complete freedom in TRS and our leaders neither buy votes nor they bribe own party men to get posts,” he said.

The TRS is primarily attracting the Congress leaders from minority community. The denial of post of CLP leader in Council to former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir came as a bless in disguise for the TRS, especially at a time when it gave the post of Deputy Chief Minister to Md Mahmood Ali. Now the TRS is comparing the position of Muslims in both the parties. While no prominent post was given to any minority leader in the Telangana Congress, the TRS not only nominated a Muslim as Deputy CM, but also gave him the second most important portfolio of Revenue.

Sources say that several Congress leaders belonging to minority communities may join the TRS after the Assembly session beginning from June 9. INN