BJP reaches out to K Chandrasekhar Rao in Telangana, say sources

HYDERABAD: After consistently attacking K Chandrasekhar Rao’s TRS as a ‘family party’ and branding its government in Telangana corrupt, BJP has switched tracks and is whistling a different tune not even 24 hours after voting completed.BJP state president K Laxman told TOI on Saturday his party was ready to tie up with TRS if Telangana ends up as a hung House on December 11. He, however, had one rider — TRS must ditch Asaduddin Owaisi ’s AIMIM.“Our party wants to support a government (in Telangana) minus Congress and AIMIM,” Laxman said. Although TRS and AIMIM are not official allies, the two have openly accepted they are ‘friendly’. Owaisi had campaigned for TRS candidates in pockets with large Muslim populations and that TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao would again be the chief minister once results are out.Of Friday’s three exit polls, two gave TRS a clear mandate while one gave it between 48 and 60 legislators in a House of 119 seats. In 2014 election, BJP had bagged five of the 45 seats it had contested in united Andhra Pradesh . At the time, it was in alliance with TDP. This time, the party is contesting 118 seats and has given one seat to Yuva Telangana party.The exit polls gave BJP between five and seven seats in the state. The party itself is hoping to win 10 to 12. Sources said if these numbers are correct, BJP can play kingmaker in the event of a hung House.Analysts say given that the main fight in Telangana is between TRS and the Congress alliance that includes Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, Telangana Jana Samithi and CPI, the BJP will have no option but to support TRS in the event of a hung House.