Parties rework poll strategies on division of AP

With the division of Andhra Pradesh a reality now, political parties in the state are redrawing their strategies with the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections looming.
President's rule was imposed in Andhra Pradesh as Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and also a number of Congress MLAs quit their posts and party in Seemandhra in protest against state's division.
Riding the formation of Telangana, the ruling Congress is hoping to make substantial gains in the region which has 17 Lok Sabha and 119 assembly segments.
Congress MPs, MLAs and ministers in the erstwhile Kiran Kumar Reddy government are taking out victory rallies and events to thank Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the passage of Telangana bill in Parliament.

Congress expressed hope that TRS, which is now a powerful force in the region, would merge with it, but the ties appeared to have run into rough weather in the wake of the national party "poaching" on some TRS leaders.
The issue of possible merger or alliance between the two parties is expected to be clear this week with the TRS holding a crucial party meeting tomorrow.

Either merger or alliance with TRS is expected to boost Congress' prospects in the region.
Under attack for state's division, Congress, however, faces a bleak future in Seemandhra (with 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats) and its leaders are trying to highlight the development package offered the residual Andhra Pradesh to reach out to the voters.

TRS leaders are expected to do well in the region as it is their party which took the separate statehood demand to the national centre-stage.