Are BJP, TRS mending fences?

Are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telangana RashtraSamithi (TRS) mending fences and building bridges? In fact, the chemistry between both parties seem to be working out, of late. And, it has come out in the open during Union Finance Minister ArunJaitley’s day long visit to Hyderabad, if it can be construed as any indication for the new found love between the two parties.

The camaraderie between Jaitley and Telangana IT Minister KTR was more palpable from their constant interaction at the inaugural of Symbiosis University at Kothur in Mahbubnagar district on Sunday.

Jaitley felicitated KTR on the dais marking the latter’s 40th birthday. KTR demoed his humility and respect for an elder by bending as if he tried to touch the Finance Minister’s feet. This can’t just be ignored a gesture on the part of both. As if he was giving a roadmap to the “newest State” of Telangana, the Union Finance Minister, during his address, wanted the State Government to spread the development to other districts of Telangana. The Government could consider developing industrial clusters to evenly distribute the development across the State.

He lauded the efforts of the Government in leveraging the natural advantages it had inherited — like Hyderabad and the development around it.

Jaitley publicly acknowledged that the BJP always was a protagonist of smaller States which would be convenient administrative units. He referred to the initiatives of the TRS Government, evoking an impressive response from the audience and KTR alike.

Later, the Union Minister, who is perceived to be the eyes and ears of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drove straight to the official residence of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The TRS supremo hosted him lunch and honoured him. A rare gesture in that. For, not many Union Ministers were specially invited and treated to lunch or dinner by the Chief Minister in the recent past.

Almost all senior BJP leaders of the State were present at the Chief Minister’s residence when Jaitley visited KCR. Earlier in the day, BJP legislators and leaders called on KTR and felicitated him on his birthday.

Later,Jaitley delivered the keynote address at a seminar organized by Justice Konda Madhava Reddy Foundation, again led by TRS MP Konda Visheshwar Reddy.

These apart, Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Telangana on August 7. Jaitley’s visit could be seen as a prelude or an exercise to prepare the ground for the impending visit of Modi. This made it evident that Jaitey’s visit was a bespoke pro-TRS tour.

The TRS has always complained that the Prime Minister hasn’t visited Telangana ever since he was elected to the office.

While the BJP has seen the TRS as a natural ally of the Congress, for KCR has many a time acknowledged the generosity of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in having Telangana carved out, the TRS doesn’t want to be seen as an ally of the Congress in the State. There is a reason for this: The Congress is the main opposition in the State and it is convenient for the TRS to have the Congress as opposition. For, there is a lot of incoherence within the grand old party and most leaders are mealy-mouthed for very obvious reasons. This is convenient for the TRS to have such an opposition, rather than a sanctimonious BJP on the other side of the fence.

As if to close ranks, the Chief Minister called on the powers-that-be in Delhi during his recent visit and impressed them that he could be a potential ally in the future. Buttressing his father’s efforts, KTR too nursed a few others who could turn out to be thorns in the proverbial flesh.