After BJP, AIMIM promises to back TRS in Telangana

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, December 10

After the BJP, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have assured support to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in case it falls short of numbers.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi met TRS chief KC Rao today and assured him unconditional support, if required. The BJP has already said it would back TRS if the AIMIM was not part of the government.

Since TRS hopes it will ride KCR’s popularity wave to get another term in office, sources in the TRS said all preparations were being made to celebrate the victory in the evening. At the same time, leaders of the Congress-led “Praja Katumi” (people’s alliance) today met Governor ESL Narasimhan and asked him to invite the largest group of pre-poll alliance partners in case no party got a clear majority. It is learnt that all parties have already established contact with some Independents who could prove to be kingmakers.

The BJP that contested the Assembly elections on its own has already given up the idea of forming the government, giving indications of support to the TRS. It now appears that the BJP went along to revive its cadres for the 2019 parliamentary polls and to ensure a spilt of votes in a triangular contest between the alliance.

In 2014, the BJP had fought the Telangana polls jointly with the TDP and won five seats out of the 119. All five constituencies — Uppal, Musheerabad, Amberpet, Goshamahal and LB Nagar— are in Hyderabad.

Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said today that counting of votes will start at 7 am and results will be declared after 2,379 rounds of counting that comes to about 15-25 rounds for each constituency. He said that most of the results were expected to be declared by 12.30 pm.