For the first time, Congress and Telugu Desam Party, which had been bitter enemies for over three decades, came together on Wednesday with the sole purpose of defeating the Telangana Rashtra Samithi headed by K Chandrasekhar Rao in the December 7 assembly elections.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu addressed a joint public meeting at Khammam and both the parties mobilised huge crowds. But somehow the soul of unity was glaringly missing at the meeting.
While Naidu was more enthusiastic in sharing the dais with Rahul, the response from the other side was not so encouraging.
Naidu’s chopper was made to land at about three kilometres from the meeting venue, on the pretext that helipad at the college grounds was reserved for Rahul. Having no other option, Naidu had to come by his special bus up to the venue.
Though Naidu came a little early and waited for Rahul who came late, the latter just shook his hands with Naidu and walked briskly. The TDP president had to just follow him.
The Congress leaders who were in big numbers were busy greeting Rahul and nobody bothered to even wish Naidu.
Even on the stage, both Naidu and Rahul waved to the crowds separately. Though they sat adjacent to each other, they did not talk much and Rahul was busy chatting with the Congress leaders.
Former Union minister Renuka Chowdary, who was once a Rajya Sabha member of TDP, came to Rahul and wished him, but did not bother to even look at Naidu.
Only time Naidu was found smiling was when Manda Krishna Madiga and Gaddar acknowledged Naidu’s contribution to Telangana.
Even when Naidu was speaking, there was not so much response from the crowds, who showed more enthusiasm in listening to Rahul.
