No President's rule in AP, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday said "consultations" were on to resolve the Telangana issue and hoped the process, including engaging MPs and MLAs from the region who resigned to press for their demand for a separate state, would help it reach a final decision even as it ruled out suggestions of President's rule in Andhra Pradesh.

"Consultation process is still continuing. No decision has been taken yet," home minister P Chidambaram said when asked about the demand for a separate Telangana state.

Ruling out the possibility of imposing President's rule in the state, Chidambaram said, "We are not thinking of President's rule... We hope that the process of consultations will show us the path to reach a conclusion."

Expressing unhappiness over the spate of resignations, he said the Congress general secretary in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh was already in talks with party MLAs and MPs on the issue.

Asked about his meeting with Andhra Pradesh police chief V Dinesh Reddy, he said the top cop had assumed charge recently and had made a courtesy call on him. "There is nothing unusual in the meeting," he said.

The home minister, however, said there was an apprehension that law and order problems would arise as a result of the 'bandh' call (by Telangana Political Joint Action Committee). "That is why we have provided central armed police forces to the state. But I sincerely hope that there will not be a breakdown of law and order," he said.