Trade and business circles are counting on the Telangana Rashtra Samiti shifting its focus from the agitation to the general elections in 2014.
Their hopes have been bolstered by TRS supremo K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s call for a “ceasefire” on Tuesday. Instead, Mr Rao wants TRS to get into an election mode. He said a state of Telangana will become a reality only if the TRS bags the majority of Lok Sabha seats.
“Mr Rao’s shift of focus to electoral politics indicates that the status quo will remain till 2014,” said an industrialist on condition of anonymity.
Trade and commerce have been badly hit since 2010 due to frequent agitations called for a separate Telangana state. These stirs often lead to violence and bandhs, disrupting businesses for days. “We are suffering on account of acute power shortage. Closure of industry due to agitations further deteriorates the situation,” said A. Prasad Kumar Reddy, president of the Federation of AP Small Industries Associations.
Now, the TRS announcement is likely to lead to business as usual. The top brass of the government is also relieved as the Telangana Political JAC, led by Prof Kodandaram, has endorsed Mr Rao’s strategy. The leaders of ‘T’ employee organisations — a strong base for the JAC and the main force in making the pro-Telangana strikes a success — are likely to heed to Mr Rao’s ceasefire call.