A new alliance has been formed in Telangana as the Lok Sabha elections draw near. The party that has previously ruled the state is now seeking an alliance with a party that has limited influence in the region. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has agreed to form an alliance with the BRS for the upcoming polls.
The decision to form this alliance was made after a meeting between BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao and BSP State president RS Praveen Kumar. The meeting took place at the former CM’s residence in Nandinagar. The alliance talks have stirred discussions in political circles due to BSP’s minimal performance in recent Assembly elections, securing only 1.8% of votes and losing in Sirpur.
Party leaders have indicated that Praveen Kumar may contest from Nagarkurnool, Warangal, or another general seat. KCR is considering offering two to three seats to BSP for the elections. Both parties share similar principles and have worked together on initiatives for Dalits, including the ‘Dalit Bandhu’ program.
Following their meeting, Rao announced that they would contest the LS elections together, highlighting their shared values and objectives. The alliance has received approval from the BSP high command, and further details on policies and seat-sharing will be disclosed later. Discussions with BSP leader Mayawati are scheduled to take place in the coming days.
Kumar expressed concerns about the threat to secularism in the country, criticizing the BJP’s actions and praising KCR for upholding secular values. He also criticized the Congress for allegedly behaving similarly to the BJP. The seat-sharing arrangements will be determined by the parties’ high commands, with the alliance expected to positively impact the people of Telangana.
In response to questions, Kumar stated that his criticisms of KCR during the Assembly elections still stand, emphasizing that he will fight against injustices towards Bahujans regardless of the individuals involved. He also accused the Congress of neglecting issues related to communal clashes and claimed that the party lacks a commitment to secularism.