The master political strategist that he is, K.Chandra Sekhar Rao of the TRS seems to be playing his cards well keeping the 2014 elections in mind. After making a statement that elections would come early in 2013 itself yesterday, he also went one step ahead and invited Congress leaders like MP Vivek to give up hope that the Congress would ever grant a separate Telangana and join the TRS to fight togethere.

Today, the Congress MP himself admitted that he had recived an invitation to join the TRS and that there was nothing to hide about it. He however expressed hope that the Congress party itself would grant the Telangana state. What need to be remembered in this context is that before the Home Ministry accepted the Telangana Congress MPs demand for an all party meet, the TRS cheif met with Vivek and a couple of other Congress MPs. There were reports then that the 3 leaders were invited by KCR into the TRS.

A young and articulate leader like Vivek joining the TRS would be a big loss for the Congress. The gaines the TRS would make are obvious. Vivek comes a from a strong political lineage and is also an extremely successful business man. His business empire spans the entire country and it would add financial muscle to the TRS. Most importantly, the speculation that KCR offered to project Vivek as a the Chief Minister candidate also would be in line with his earlier promise that the TRS would ensure a Dalit politician be its Chief Minister candidate for the Telangana state. The party currently does not have too many Dalit leaders with the profile to be projected as a Chief Ministerial candidate and Vivek could clearly fill that slot.