Telangana Congressmen likely to visit Delhi over statehood issue

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh ministers and other Congress leaders from Telangana region are likely to go to Delhi soon to meet top party leaders over the separate statehood demand.

Congress Rajya Sabha member K Keshav Rao, who is the co-convener of the steering committee of Telangana Congress leaders, told reporters here today that the ministers and others may visit the national capital soon.

Senior minister K Jana Reddy, another leader of the steering committee, met the state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana here yesterday and discussed the issue, party sources said.

The Telangana Congress leaders, particularly the MPs, have been vocal in raising the separate Telangana demand. They held fasts and even participated in 'rail roko', which was organised during the 'sakala janula samme' (strike by all sections of people) in September and October this year in support of the Telangana demand.

The Congress leadership and the Centre, however, made it clear that further consultations needed to be conducted over the contentious Telangana issue and that a consensus is required.

Keshav Rao expressed confidence that the Congress would eventually accede the separate statehood demand, though there is a delay in it.