TDP MP meets Telangana CM

Gundu Sudharani, a member of parliament from TDP, on Wednesday met Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in New Delhi amid speculation that she may switch loyalties to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Sudharani, a member of the Rajya Sabha, told reporters after the meeting that she met KCR to support the efforts being made by him and his government for the development of the newly created state.

The Telugu Desam Party MP said the TRS government had taken up ambitious programmes like Water Grid, Mission Kakatiya and development of Warangal as a smart city.

"You will come to know," she said when asked if she was joining the ruling party TRS.

Sudharani's move would deal a blow to the TDP in Telangana, ahead of the by-election to Warangal Lok Sabha constituency scheduled for November 21.

Meanwhile, the process for the by-election was set in motion on Wednesday with the Election Commission issuing the notification.

The last date for filing of nominations is November 4. The scrutiny of nominations will be held the next day.

The vacancy was caused by the resignation of Kadiam Srihari, who was inducted into the Telangana cabinet and made deputy chief minister in January.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress began hectic consultations to finalise its candidate. The party's state chief Uttam Kumar Reddy met senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh in Delhi and submitted a list of probable candidates.

Reddy said the leadership will announce the candidate in a couple of days.

TDP and its ally Bharatiya Janata Party will continue their alliance for the by-poll. However, it is still unclear which party will field the candidate.