TRS-BJP rift at flash point?

HYDERABAD: The differences between the TRS and the BJP reached a flash point, making one wonder whether the BJP will think of quitting the  Telangana Joint Action Committee for good. The state committee of the BJP seems to be expressing serious displeasure over the TRS not extending political support to BJP state chief G Kihan Reddy's Telangana Poru Yatra which began in Mahaboobnagar district on January 19.The 24-day yatra, aimed at proving the party's commitment to the Telangana statehood cause, will cover a distance of 3,500 km in all nine districts of the region and have the participation of state and national leaders.  The Telangana Joint Action Committee and several people's organisations have extended their support to the yatra but, curiously, the Telangana Tashtra Samiti, the major political force in the region, has not officially declared its stance on the BJP's show.  The yatra took off from Mahaboobnagar district but neither TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao, who represents Mahaboobnagar in the Lok Sabha, nor the party's workers took part in the yatra. Only TJAC chairman M Kodandaram participated in it. Chandrasekhar Rao has, from the beginning, adopted a "touch me not"  attitude towards the BJP, keeping in mind the votes of minorities his party might lose if he is found in the company of BJP leaders. This is one reason why the TRS leadership has not given any call to its MLAs to take part in Kishan Reddy's Yatra. Earlier, when LK Advani visited Telangana, only Vijayashanti welcomed him because she had come from the BJP. No other TRS leader took part in the yatra then. Incensed with the TRS' reluctance to identify with his party, BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who inaugurated Telangana Poru Yatra, attacked the TRS and said that Telangana state could be delivered  only by national parties. “The Congress has already betrayed the people of Telangana and the people should support the BJP to get statehood for their region,'' he said and added that regional and sub-regional parties would not be able to achieve the goal. Wondered a BJP leader: "Why is the TRS shying away from the BJP which has been promising state's bifurcation if NDA comes to power. If the party displays the same attitude, it will not help the movement. When extreme left forces have no qualms in working with the BJP for Telagnana, I do not understand why KCR is running away from us.”