Hyderabad, Feb 21: TRS senior leader and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao today asked the TDP to work with his party, so that they together could bury the ruling Congress in the State.

Talking to the media here on Tuesday, Harish Rao said that his party was willing to work with the TDP together if that party chief N Chandrababu Naidu gave a letter to the Union government, extending support for the Telangana demand. He said that they together could destroy the Congress party which was standing in the way of Telangana. 

Harish Rao reminded the TDP leaders that the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had claimed that four parties, including the TDP, were yet to express their views on Telangana and it would not be possible on the part of the Union government to decide on the statehood issue or call an all-party meet, until these parties explain their views. He said that his party was ready to withdraw from contest in the ensuing by-elections, if Naidu gave a letter to the Union Home Minister expressing support to formation of Telangana State. He also said that the two parties together could trounce the Congress party in the State easily.

The TRS leader said that the TDP leaders were making vague remarks on the Telangana issue. He criticized that both the ruling Congress and the TDP were not cooperating in bringing about a resolution on Telangana in the Assembly. He said that the TRS was not insisting on immediate resolution and only wanted the government to accept the proposal and take up debate and adopt the resolution during the current Assembly session. He asserted that his party would not give up its demand for such a resolution in the House.

It may be mentioned here that the TRS and the BJP have been stalling the Assembly proceedings right from the day one demanding that a resolution on Telangana passed in the House. Harish Rao also rejected the suggestion of the TDP that by-elections should be boycotted. 

Stating that Telangana could not be achieved if by-elections were boycotted, Harish said that the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi would open their eyes only if their party candidates were made to lose their deposits in the elections. He said that the TDP was asking for boycott as it has no courage to face the elections. 

Referring to another suggestion that they should contest as Independents, Harish Rao said that his party has no need to do it and commented that it was the TDP which had to field its candidates as Independents as the party had lost faith of the people. He said that his party’s main aim was achieving Telangana and it had no fear to face the electorate on that demand. He also maintained that his party was working for Telangana and not for politics or power.