KCR forces Congress to make Telangana noises

NEW DELHI: Congress is treading carefully on granting statehood to Telangana as more members of Parliament from the party are threatening to join other regional parties in Andhra Pradesh.


The party on Monday said it was not opposed to creation of smaller states, including Telangana. Wary of more resignations after two MPs and a former Congress Working Committee member joined Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Congress said efforts were on to develop a consensus on the issue. “We are not against creation of smaller states, including Telangana. But we are trying to develop a consensus on this,” Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.

When told that Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had said that a decision on the issue will be taken this month and whether a month meant 30 days, “Yes... if our general secretary has said, then there will be something in his mind.” Replying to a volley of questions whether it was a very difficult issue to solve, he said it was “a difficult issue...there are several opinions and it is a time consuming process”.

Ahmed’s remarks came close on the heels of Congress core committee last week deliberating on separate Telangana issue and Azad’s indication on Sunday that a decision is on the cards in the current month. The party is trying to walk the political tightrope as it is hoping to rein in disappointed leaders from the Telangana region.

According to sources, MPs K Rajgopal Reddy and Sukender Reddy Gutha are planning to join YSR Congress’ Party. A senior Congress leader privy to the development told ET, “the two MPs are confused whether to join YSR Congress Party or TRS. Even K Chandrasekhar Rao had given them an offer. But the two are likely to join Jaganmohan Reddy’s party.” “Telangana is a priority before Congress and it’s taking it seriously...

Deliberations are on with all stakeholders. Consensus is being built in all the three regions,” Azad had said, adding, “In all probability, the Centre will take a decision within this month.” Statehood to Telangana, to be carved out of Andhra’s 10 districts, was not an easy decision to take as Seemandhra Congress leaders have opposed such a move tooth-and-nail.