Hyderabad: Exit polls predicting a second term for the Modi government have dampened spirits in the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) camp, where the mood was subdued with hopes of playing a role in the event of a hung Parliament set to be dashed.
"What we predicted and our feeling was neither the NDA nor the UPA will get majority on its own. As per exit polls, what we visualised is not going to be correct," a senior leader of the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led outfit told media.
"If the NDA were to return to power on its own strength as per the exit polls, Rao's push to forge a federal front of non-Congress, non-BJP regional parties will undoubtedly lose steam," said a political analyst.
During the Lok Sabha election campaign in Telangana, which has 17 seats, the TRS had repeatedly claimed that the party would play an important role in the government formation.
Rao had floated the federal front idea last year and met a number of leaders, including Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), M K Stalin (DMK), Naveen Patnaik (BJD) and H D Deve Gowda (JDS). Rao had stepped up his efforts this month. In fact, ahead of the Lok Sabha election results this week, the TRS was hedging its bets and bracing for different post-poll scenarios, except majority for the NDA or the UPA, keeping its options open.
A senior TRS leader had said that his party expects the Congress to not cross the 100-seats mark. "If the Congress falls flat and does not cross 100, it does not make sense at all (to join forces with it) as it will not be able to lead (the government)", this leader said.