HYDERABAD: A beleaguered Congress in Telangana is trying to fight off its blues trying to poach TRS candidates it expects to win and thereby scupper the regional party’s plan to form its government in the new state. Congress leaders are talking to prospective TRS MLAs, luring them with ministerial berths if they pull off large-scale defections.Telangana Congress president Ponnala Lakshmaiah and former PCC president D Srinivas were in talks with “disgruntled” TRS candidates. In fact, TPCC spokesman Sravan Dasoju confirmed this in the hope that it would prompt more TRS candidates to follow suit.“Many TRS candidates are in touch with our leaders,” said Dasoju, who jumped the TRS ship just before the elections to join the Congress.Ponnala claimed at least 20 TRS candidates were in touch with him, but declined to name them. Off the record, Congress sources claimed they have so far approached M Sahodar Reddy (Parkal), Gurunath Reddy (Kodangal), P Mahender Reddy (Dornakal), Enugu Ravinder Reddy (Yellareddy) and Shashidhar Reddy (Kodad).A grim TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao swung into action and reportedly assured the 15-odd candidates of cabinet berths if the party forms the government.TRS sources said the party chief has called for a meeting of the state executive on Friday to tackle the looming crisis. “To some of them, KCR has offered cabinet berths and to the rest, chairmanship of state boards,” said a source.The Congress is believed to have told TRS candidates to act independently as a block — if they win — and support the Congress in forming the first government in Telangana. Interestingly, most prospective MLAs are from the Reddy community and were with the TDP before joining TRS.“In principle, we don’t encourage defections. However, if somebody is frustrated in his party and wants to join us, we can’t say no,” Ponnala told TOI.Congress sources said wooing the disgruntled candidates in the TRS is part of their plan to form the maiden government in Telangana and also ensure TRS does not come to power.“The 15-odd TRS candidates are either willing or being prevailed upon to function as a separate block. If all of them get elected, then the anti-defection law will not apply to them and they can align with the Congress,” a Congress source said.The Congress also firmed up the support of MIM in its efforts to derail the TRS’s bid to form the government. Ponnala and senior leaders Danam Nagender and Mohammed Shabbir Ali met MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday, where the latter assured the Congress of his party’s support, said sources.With about a week left for election results to be declared, both the TRS and Congress are expected to intensify their bid for government formation as well as prevent the other from coming to power.