Cong-TRS unity to fore

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's sharing of the dais with the TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao is widely seen here as a demonstration of a commitment towards a coalition in Andhra Pradesh.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's sharing of the dais with the Telengana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrashekhar Rao is widely seen here as a demonstration of a commitment towards a coalition in Andhra Pradesh.

The effort will rejuvenate the cadres and is sending a message of a joint effort by the two to defeat the TDP-BJP combine in the state, observers say.

Congress and TRS leadership jointly appealed to voters from the same stage at Nizamabad two days ago to work unitedly to defeat the TDP-BJP combine adding credence to the authenticity of their alliance, which has been under severe scrutiny from various quarters.

"I appeal to the people to vote for a change and promise to bring development to Andhra Pradesh and Telengana," Gandhi had said while Rao thanked her for the assurance and called upon the cadre to work unitedly.

There has been unrest and violent incidents in both parties eversince the two signed a poll pact with many workers resorting to arson, vandalism, slogan shouting, and hurling of abuses and corruption charges against leadership. Some even threw their hat into the ring as independents.