Only issue-based support to NDA, says TRS

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday said that it would support the NDA government led by BJP based on issues. The announcement came exactly a week before the Lok Sabha session.

WATCH THIS: PM Modi Exposes Pakistan In Front Of Imran Khan, Talks Tough On Terrorism At SCO Session Plenary

K Keshava Rao, the senior party leader was declared as the Parliamentary Party Leader said that TRS won't engage in animosity or friendship. When asked about K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR)-led regional outfit's policy towards the National Democratic Alliance, he said:

The lawmaker said that the party will back up NDA-based on issues as they have done during the previous NDA regime.

Demonetisation and GST was backed up by TRS. In addition, it also backed up the ruling frontier's decision for the post of President and Vice-President. KCR shared his inputs on the strategy which will be adopted by the TRS MPs in the Parliament session which will commence on Monday.

READ | JD(U)'s Ajay Alok Resigns As Party Spokesperson Citing Views Mismatch, Says 'don't Want To Embarrass Nitish Kumar'. Read His Statement

TRS had aimed to win a majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections by bagging at least 16 out of the 17 seats, while it hoped that its ally All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) would garner one seat. However, it ended up with just nine seats. Surprisingly, the BJP which fielded a lone member from Telangana in the previous elections, won four seats. The Congress won three seats. 

Since last year TRS has tried to form a federal front of regional parties to avoid a hung Parliament. But it never committed itself and maintained its position that way. The NDA's massive wave curbed any hopes that TRS had. The Telangana-based regional party was keen on forming a government in case the NDA or UPA fell short of majority.

On Tuesday, TRS appointed Nama Nageswara Rao, the parliamentarian from Khammam as its party leader in Lok Sabha. Rao was the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) parliamentary leader from 2009 to 2014. He joined the KCR's outfit on the eve of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. 

READ | Anand Mahindra Exults In ISRO's Space Station Ambition Announcement, Makes Hilarious Filmy Reference

In addition, AP Jithender Reddy was floor leader of TRS in the previous Lok Sabha, but joined the BJP after being denied ticket. The TRS will also miss out K Kavitha, the Chief Minister's daughter and first woman parliamentarian along with B Vinod Kumar, the politician who had previously served as a deputy leader of party in Lok Sabha.

Both of these political bigwigs were defeated by BJP candidates in Nizamabad and Karimnagar constituencies. TRS' hold in Rajya Sabha is based on six seats.