In the season of unconventional alliances, Telangana was also a witness to a political alliance which was unthinkable till now.
In a desperate measure to ensure its survival in the face of unrelenting offensive by ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the main Opposition Congress has reached out to its bitter rival Telugu Desam and sought its support in the ensuing by-election to Paleru Assembly constituency in Khammam district.
In a development which caught everybody by surprise Telangana State Congress president Captain Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday phoned Telangana TDP president l Ramanna and requested him to support the Congress Party.
According to sources, Ramanna sought some time to consult the national party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
Sources said keeping in view the tough challenge the TRS was posing to both the rival parties, there was a strong possibility that the TDP will not field its own candidate but extend support to the candidate who can defeat the ruling party.
Khammmam had traditionally been a stronghold of the left and the TDP, but both of them have lost their hold over it. Though the TRS had namesake presence till the 2014 elections, later it gained ground at the cost of the Congress and the TDP with many of their key leaders joining the TRS.
TDP stalwart Tummala Nageshwara Rao who is now Minister for Road and Buildings in the TRS Government will be the candidate in the by-election slated for May 16.
The Congress was mulling over the name of Sucharita Reddy. The Paleru seat fell vacant due to the death of Congress MlA Venkat Reddy.