The Telangana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that it was ready to support the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to form the state government, if the latter fell short of the magic number in the Legislative Assembly election held on December 7. However, it said that it would only extend support if the TRS cuts its ‘friendly’ relationship with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Speaking to local media outlets on Saturday, BJP state President Dr K Laxman said, “The BJP’s vote share has increased greatly more than we expected. We also hope to win more seats when the results are declared. No party will get a clear majority and we feel that we will play a key role after the results.”
Asked about whether the party would support the TRS, Laxman said, “We will speak to the high command in New Delhi and consider it. We will extend our support if it is needed. But we will never hold talks with the AIMIM or the Congress-led alliance.”
Laxman also said that considering the exit poll predictions, it was unlikely that the state government would be formed, without the BJP’s help.
The Election Commission on Saturday announced that 73.20 percent polling was registered in the Telangana Assembly elections on Friday. The announcement came more than 24 hours after the polling ended in all 119 constituencies. Over 2.8 crore people were eligible to vote.
With polling coming to an end for the Assembly elections in Telangana on Friday, both the ruling TRS and the main opposition Congress were confident of a victory.
After voting in Siddipet district, caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao exuded confidence that the TRS would win the polls with a huge majority. Congress party's Telangana unit President Uttam Kumar Reddy, however, remained confident that the alliance would come to power. He told reporters that the alliance would win 85 seats.
This was the first Assembly elections in India's youngest state. The previous elections were held in united Andhra Pradesh in 2014 and Telangana had recorded a turnout of 68.9 percent. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 11.
IANS inputs