Andhra’s anti-Cong front in trouble

The alliance of four opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh appears to be in trouble. The very purpose of floating it — to challenge the ruling Congress together and prevent the splitting of the anti-Congress vote — seems defeated with the allies fielding candidates in constituencies reserved for others.

The alliance of four opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh appears to be in trouble. The very purpose of floating it — to challenge the ruling Congress together and prevent the splitting of the anti-Congress vote — seems defeated with the allies fielding candidates in constituencies reserved for others.

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In the latest sign of trouble, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) boss N. Chandrababu Naidu directed his candidates to file nominations in 15 assembly and three Lok Sabha constituencies, which were earlier allotted to the Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS). The other two constituents of the alliance are the CPI and the CPM.

The TDP action was said to be in retaliation for the TRS’s decision on Friday to field candidates in seats reserved for the TDP and the CPM. That had prompted the CPM to announce candidates for 20 constituencies — four more than its allotted share.

Given 45 assembly and nine Lok Sabha seats in Telengana as part of the agreement among the allies, the TRS announced candidates for 50 assembly seats. This led to a virtual revolt in the TDP, with many leaders threatening to quit.