TRS rules out even alliance with Congress

Hyderabad, March 15 (IANS) In a major jolt to Congress, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Saturday ruled out electoral alliance with the party for the forthcoming polls to Lok Sabha and state assembly.

After saying a no to merger with Congress, the TRS has now refused to have an electoral truck with the Congress, dashing the last hopes of the party's central leadership.

Addressing TRS workers at the party headquarters, TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao made it clear that there will be no poll alliance with Congress.

KCR, as Rao is popular among his supporters, launched a counter attack on Congress leaders accusing his party of betrayal, asking if Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's statements are helpful for the alliance.

"What was the betrayal?" he asked. The TRS chief reiterated that he had offered to merge his party with the Congress if separate Telangana state is created without any conditions.

The TRS had ruled out merger with the Congress after a bill was passed in parliament last month for formation of separate Telangana state.

"Let's see from tomorrow if TRS MLAs will join the Congress or Congress MLAs will join us," he challenged Congress leaders.

KCR said the party would hold talks with Communist Party of India (CPI) for the alliance.