Telangana assembly elections: Independents apple of eyes, but can they be kingmakers?

HYDERABAD: Will the independents and candidates who contested on tickets of parties such as Forward Block (FB), Bahujan Dalit Front and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) be kingmakers or game changers in the formation of a government in Telangana? Though this would be revealed after the results are declared on December 11, parties such as TRS and Congress-led alliance, Prajakutami, are taking no chances.They are trying every strategy to woo independents on their side.
Over 1,000 independents, including candidates from smaller parties, contested from 119 assembly constituencies. Political pundits and exit poll surveys predict that independents have winning prospects in 6-10 constituencies.
Though TRS and Prajakutami leaders are exuding confidence of crossing the magic figure of 60 to form a government, both the parties have strategically started negotiations to woo independents and other candidates from parties such as BLF, FB and BSP who have winning prospects. From offering money in addition to reimbursing their election expenditure, to considering a place in the cabinet and other posts with cabinet rank protocol are the various benefits being offered to lure them.
However, even the independents are playing safe for a better deal by neither rejecting nor accepting the offers.
“A second rung leader from a main political party approached me to join their party or support them. Extending support to a stable government that has the intention of serving the people should be the main criteria of supporting any party,” said a candidate who contested as an independent.
However, top leaders of TRS and Congress are singing a different tune, which political pundits described as ‘playing to the gallery’. Telangana Congress treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy said these were all rumours. “Prajakutami will get a clear majority and form a government. It would not need to woo any independent candidate,” he said.
Even TRS leaders said the party would get majority seats and will not indulge in wooing tactics.