M A I N   N E W S

Telangana crisis: Day of hectic parleys, no result
Anita Katyal
Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, October 8
The Capital today witnessed a flurry of activity on the burning issue of Telangana with Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy spending the day briefing the Congress leadership about the 26-day-old agitation for a separate state.

But the action-packed day failed to yield any result as the Congress dilemma on the statehood issue remained unresolved. Having already said that it needs more time for wider deliberations, the Congress leadership plans to continue these discussions on Monday when it is expected to meet Chiranjeevi and other state Congress leaders from the Rayalseema and the Coastal region of Andhra Pradesh who are resisting bifurcation of the state.

Both Narasimhan and Reddy held separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress incharge of Andhra Pradesh.

Emerging from these meetings, both Azad and Kiran Reddy scotched all rumours about the imposition of President’s rule in the state. “This is a process of wider consultations and consultations will continue. Where does the question of President’s rule arise,” Azad told mediapersons. Reddy also sought to play down talk of Central rule or a change of leadership, stating, “I have come here to discuss the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh and to find an amicable solution for everyone. I have given my opinion and they will soon come with some solution for the benefit of the state.”

Reddy is a worried man as survival of his government is at stake with Congress MLAs from Telangana under tremendous public pressure to emulate the example set by TDP legislators who have resigned from the Assembly to press their demand for a separate state.

UPA sources said the Centre is keeping all its options open. Since the Congress is unable to take an early decision on Telangana and the agitation in the state is gradually spiralling out of control, imposition of President’s is on the table. However, the UPA government will have a problem getting it ratified in Parliament as the ruling coalition does not have the requisite numbers in the Rajya Sabha.

Congress is in a bind on the Telangana issue although there is a growing view that it is now becoming increasingly difficult for the Centre to brush aside the demands for a separate state.

The demand has resulted in a vertical split in its state unit while any move on the formation of a separate state will also be resisted by its own allies, especially West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. If she gives her consent to the creation of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh, she will have to contend with renewed demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling. It will also trigger similar demands from other states. With Uttar Pradesh due to go to polls early next year, interested political players will seize upon this opportunity to use its pending demand for a separate Harit Pradesh as an electoral issue.

On the other hand, the Congress is unlikely to make any political gains from acceding to the demand for Telangana. The TRS, which has emerged as the most vocal supporter for a new state, will be the key political beneficiary in this region. On the other hand, the Congress will lose out in other regions of Andhra Pradesh where it has to deal with Jaganmohan Reddy, late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s son, who has floated his own party.