What is the alleged ‘understanding’ between TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu? Where would this new found bonhomie between the Telugu regional leaders lead their respective parties? These are questions being asked in the political circles in Vijayawada and Hyderabad, soon after KCR had a feast on delicious coastal curries sitting in a villa overlooking the River Krishna in Vundavalli, on Monday. They both spent about an hour together with other ministers and 20 minute in an one-on-one meeting. Though Rao flew in ostensibly to invite Naidu to his Ayuta Chandi Yagam scheduled to commence from December 23, the visit triggered an intense speculation about the hidden meaning of the meeting. In a politically charged context, no act is without political meaning. So, the meeting of Rao and Naidu and moments they spent are not devoid of political meaning. The two questions being talked about in political circles have stemmed from this assumption that they might have exchanged political notes.
Rao flew in specially in a helicopter. He was received with such an importance by ministers as if they were receiving a head of the state. He was shown the Amaravati capital construction works. Half a dozen ministers saw him off. In between the feast with 15 types of Andhra Curries- which KCR used to deride Andhras during the days of T-movement. The whole drama was witnessed by Seemandhra people with a bated breath in Hyderabad. Because, this is unbelievable, given the high-level hostility between the two leaders, just three months back. All this friendship has been displayed in full measure at a time when Greater Hyderabad is gearing up for Municipal Corporation Elections. Is Naidu not sending across a message to Seemandhra people that “we are great friends? Would this not get strengthened after Naidus’ visit to Yagam in Erravalli’s KCR farm house? Can TDP fight GHMC election playing with Seemandhra sentiment to wrest GHMC? Highly impossible? The talk among the political circles is that Naidu is distancing himself slowly from GHMC. Since Naidu and KCR are good friends, Seemandhra people have only two options- one: vote for TRS thinking TRS is Andhra chief minister’s friendly party, two: vote for T-Congress with vengeance. The former looks most likely scenario. The argument goes that Naidu will leave the Party to T-TDP leaders and allow it survive nominally in the state to make it eligible for national party status. The extreme of this argument is a possible alliance between the two parties in long future against Congress and BJP, since both Naidu and KCR are unhappy with these national parties.