TRS President keen to have poll alliance with Cong

Vijayawada, Nov 22 (UNI) Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao today said the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhara Rao was very keen to have a poll alliance with the Congress in the ensuing elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Talking to newspersons here, he said in the last elections held in 2004, the Congress had contested the Parliamentary and Assembly elections with TRS and won many seats in Telangana region.

Referring to the creation of separate Telangana state, Mr Rao said the issue would be decided by the Congress High Command. People in Telangana region were not against the party as it gave a clear mandate in support of the Congress in the last elections, he said.

Mr Rao said after the TDP announced its stand, people of coastal Andhra Pradesh were also supporting the creation of separate Telangana state.

Commenting on the government officials not inviting Congress MP G Venkataswamy and APCC President D Srinivas to the founding stone ceremony of Pranahita Chevella Lift Irrigation Project, which was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr Rao said ''it would have been good if the seniors were invited to the function.'' UNI CS AKM NY UCS1933