KCR might have been made known in clear terms that a Federal Front

Why Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is spearheading the cause for the formation of a Federal Front at the national level, made a sudden U-turn with regard to his bitter stance against the Congress ?. This climb down within 48 hours after launching a scathing attack on the Congress and wage a war to get rid of Congress and BJP from the national scene, not only as a surprise but also become a talking point in political circles.It might be recalled here that just the other day on Friday last, KCR on the occasion of the TRS Plenary lambasted the Congress as well as the BJP holding them squarely responsible the country’s numerous problems on various fronts. In the process, he did not spare Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the tirade against both the Congress and BJP. In his battle cry to wipe out the two national parties from Indian politics, he vowed to create tremors in New Delhi from Hyderabad.

However, the change of heart regarding his anti-Congress seemed to have sprouted after meeting the DMK leaders in Chennai on Sunday. KCR along with his TRS bandwagon flew down to Chennai in special chartered flight as part of his efforts to forge an alliance of all regional parties as a Federal Front to get rid of the country from the strangle-hold of both the Congress and the BJP.

KCR called on the DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi and later had a luncheon meeting with Karunanidhi’s son and DMK Working President M.K. Stalin. Later both also had a telephonic talk with TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Later during his interaction with the media, KCR took everyone by surprise in stating that he was not averse to seek Congress support in the formation of the Federal Front. What is more he even described his arch political adversary and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a “best friend” and would also rope him in his efforts of forming a Federal Front.

Against the backdrop of these developments, political observers feel that during the deliberations with Stalin and other DMK leaders KCR might have been made known in clear terms that a Federal Front without Congress would be futile exercise. It is pertinent to note here that DMK has been maintaining cordial relations with the Congress since the UPA regime. Even now the party is maintaining its rapport with the Congress as the party’s arch rival AIADMK has the support and backing of the BJP.

One cannot ignore the fact that even TMC leader and WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had her own reservations with regard to a Federal Front without Congress. This was also hinted to KCR during his meeting with her in Kolkata recently.

Thus after KCR and Stalin had a telephonic talk with Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, the TRS Chief might have got enough signals that his stance to forge an alliance for a Federal Front without Congress was impossible. Here it is also pertinent to recalled that TMC, SP, JD(S) and JMM which have all openly supported KCR’s plan for Federal Front, were among the 20 Opposition parties which have attended the dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on March 13. This dinner diplomacy by the Congress Supremo was not only to test its own political waters in the ensuing 2019 elections but also forge an alliance of like-minded parties to fight against the BJP at the Centre.

Therefore KCR might have realized that with as many as 20 Opposition parties continuing to rally behind the Congress, which is amply clear from their attendance at Sonia Gandhi’s dinner meet, it would be a futile exercise to forge a Federal Front against the Congress or keep the party out of the Front. This realization despite the fact that the TRS along with the TDP, YSRCP and AAP were not invited to Sonia Gandhi’s dinner conclave.

Whats more KCR seemed to be forced to align and seek the support of the Congress in order to achieve his dream of becoming a hero on the national scene even as the Congress leaders in Telangana State have been indulging in mud-slinging against him and his administration. It looks like all is fair in love and war !!!!!. (NSS).