Has the Congress high command really put the contentious issue of a separate Telangana state on the back burner? Has it decided not to take a call on it until the 2014 elections are over? The answers are in the affirmative.
Highly-placed Congress sources confided in INN that the Congress high command had held four surveys in the State to find out how desperate people of the region are for a separate Telangana state. The surveys reportedly found that people have other priorities and the Congress could win major portions of Telangana region despite the T-factor.
A senior Congress leader who was associated with this survey said, “Yes, our party will not give any assurance on separate Telangana state till the 2014 elections are over. We conducted four surveys across the T-region recently to find out the intensity of the Telangana sentiment. It was revealed that majority of people, especially those belonging to Greater Hyderabad region, which consists of 24 Assembly and four MP seats, are opposed to division of the State for various reasons. These people are in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
The leader, who is a staunch supporter of separate Telangana state, further revealed that the party was not worried about losing a few seats in strong T-bastions like Karimnagar, Warangal and Nizamabad districts. He added that the party is preparing itself to employ various political strategies to win as many Assembly seats as possible in these districts. Another party leader and MLC also confirmed that the survey had been conducted and said that the party was prepared to face any consequences for not creating the separate T-state.
T-leaders have sniffed out the survey, sources said. It has shocked them to learn that people are not unduly worried at the delay in creating a new state. People have other worries, like lack of development, lack of agriculture facilities, rising prices and corruption on their mind. MPs are more concerned about the survey results, which are still under wraps. They have begun consultations on how to survive if the T-feeling is feeble. They rode to Parliament on the crest of strong Telangana sentiment.
On the other hand, the Government of India is taking rapid steps to resolve the contentious Telangana issue before the declaration of the 2014 elections notifications.
The AP Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was in New Delhi, called on both the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi when the Telangana issue seem to have prominently figured along with other important matters concerning the state.
Informed sources disclosed that the Chief Minister had informed both the leaders the imperative need for resolving the Telangana affair without prolonging it further lest it might create an adverse impact on the ruling Congress in the state. He wanted some categorical announcement from the Centre in this aspect and had also assured that he would abide by the decision of the High Command.
According to reliable sources the Centre might not make any firm commitment on the bifurcation of the state at least till the 2014 elections. However, it might come out with a “package” including the setting up of an autonomous regional council for the Telangana and also make a separate budget allocation for the development of the region .This was in tune with one of the recommendations of the Justice Sri Krishna Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare a road made to resolve the issue.
Kiran Kumar Reddy is also likely to call on the Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi when is expected to explain the mounting problems being faced by his government in view of the delay in resolving the Telangana issue. He might also take the opportunity to broach the activities of the Congress legislators in extending support to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and seek necessary disciplinary action against them.
The Chief Minister’s consultation with the central leaders including the AICC President is being viewed with great importance in the wake of the separatists including Congress leaders from the Telangana region besides the TRS stepping up their moves to intensify the agitation. Amidst the raging political uncertainty the threat of the agitators taking it to the streets has become a cause of consternation for police and security agencies.
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