The TRS was likely to foray into national politics with name change. This was indicated by Chief Minister and party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao at a marathon meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and other senior leaders that lasted six hours on Friday night.
Sources said the TRS may follow the statutory requirement of convening the general body meeting of the party for changing its name and sending a resolution to the Election Commission of India to complete the process. At least three names -- Jai Bharat, Naya Bharat and Bharat Rashtra Samiti -- were discussed but the last name found favour with Mr. Rao.
It was also said that Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had now taken the initiative to convene a meeting of all parties opposed to BJP to discuss Presidential election at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 15 had in fact invited Mr. Rao also for the meeting. But, he declined the offer if the Congress was to attend. Instead, he suggested that a separate meeting of regional parties be held prior to the convergence of national parties. Ms. Banerjee conveyed to Mr. Rao that it might not be possible due to paucity of time, sources added.
