[intro] Until five months ago KCR and Naidu were at loggerhead with each other. But, both are at peace with each other now, due to the Centre’s intervention. [/intro]

Hyderabad: Wither the ceasefire between Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu? This is a question for which people and leaders of both TRS and TDP, and others have been curiously waiting, to see during the campaign for Warangal Lok Sabha constituency scheduled on November 21.

Since the bifurcation of United Andhra Pradesh, and until five months ago, both the chief ministers were at logger heads, on every other day, over several issues. The issues ranged from sharing of river waters of Krishna, nativity and a host of other issues.

After the infamous ‘cash for vote’ incident in which Telangana TDP senior leader Reventh Reddy was arrested by Telangana State Anti-Corruption Bureau, this have changed forever for both the leaders. While the TRS had campaigned that the TDP chief has been trying to destabilize a constitutionally elected government, on the other hand, the TDP and AP government had unleashed a counter attack, complaining that the TRS led Telangana State government has engaged in illegal tapping of head of a constitutionally elected government, its ministers and officials.

This had gone too far when the TS ministers and TRS leaders going to town telling that the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh would be next to be summoned in the ‘Note for Vote’ case. Taking exception to this, the TDP leaders and ministers in Naidu’s cabinet demanded the State Governor E S L Narasimhan and the Centre to give effect to Section 8, of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, which gives special powers to the State Governor, to take independent decision disregarding the advice given by the Telangana State cabinet, for securing the rights, freedom, security and liberty to the lives and properties of the people who have come settled and living in Hyderabad.
The bitter attacks and counter attacks continued for quite some time. And, the TRS leaders and opposition YRCP had even demanded the BJP leadership to sever ties with the TDP in the wake of ‘Note for Vote’ incident. However, the Centre had reportedly stepped in to broker peace between the warring TDP and TRS.

But, Naidu remained at the receiving end on many counts in the common capital, from where he has to run his government. However, the real ceasefire between the two had come, when a team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials had reportedly, and quietly descended and went to the camp office of Telangana Chief Minister, and recorded his version in an alleged irregularities took place, when he was Union State Minister for Labour.

Since then, Naidu left Hyderabad and running his administration from Vijayawada. On the other hand , KCR has been focusing on his own state issues, without taking the word of Naidu. But, for Naidu, ensuring the victory of Warangal constituency is important, where TDP is supporting a BJP candidate. Because, the present Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari was elected from the Warangal Lok Sabha constituency on a TDP ticket during 2014 General Elections. However, he crossed over to TRS, when he was promised to be made as a Deputy Chief Minister by KCR.

Equally, for KCR too, winning Warangal Lok Sabha seat is a prestigious issue. Because, Warangal has been the epicentre for the Telangana movement in the history of the struggle for a separate State cause. Also, after Hyderabad, historically and politically, Warangal remains a compass that rewrote and changed the fate of many with a series of agitations on key issues that were capable of stirring the sentiments, emotions of people across the State of Telangana. Warangal is important for both KCR and Naidu. But, till date, Naidu has reportedly not made any commitment to personally campaign for BJP candidate. On the other, KCR too has not taken any decision on the same. Though, both may take part in the campaign, whether they take on each other as they used to, five months ago, or, continue to be at peace with each other is to be seen.