BJP trying to reach out to TRS

In its search for new allies, the BJP is trying to reach out to Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and has apparently extended an invitation to its chief K Chandrasekhara Rao to attend an NDA rally in Ludhiana tomorrow.     

TRS, which is a member of Third Front, however, is playing safe with its chief not keen to attend the rally although he is likely to meet senior BJP leader L K Advani here.     

TRS sources said the party chief has got an invitation from the BJP through back channels to attend the Sunday rally in Ludhiana where the saffron party plans to showcase the strength of the NDA alliance in the wake of efforts by Congress to poach on its members.

Even as he plans to remain away from the rally, Rao is expected to meet Advani as the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate is sympathetic to the cause of separate Telengana, TRS sources said.     

The sources said Rao's intention to meet is to garner support for his main agenda of carving out a separate state of Telengana from Andhra Pradesh.