Political deadlock over Telangana continues

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has told MPs from Andhra Pradesh that the decision for the formation of a Telangana state was taken in the greater interest of the nation and asked for their cooperation, party MP M. Jagannath said Monday.

Disclosing details of Gandhi's meeting with the state's MPs last week, the Congress MP from Nagarkurnool in Telangana region said: "Madam (Gandhi) asked us to cooperate with the party and government in formation of a separate Telangana state."

"She told us that the decision was taken in the greater interest of the nation and we will have to cooperate," Jagannath told IANS.

He said both Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had lent their support for a separate Telangana and party MPs from the region would continue their efforts in this direction.

Bickering continues

The political deadlock in Andhra Pradesh over the proposed division of the state continued Monday with ministers and legislators from Telangana region holding a meeting after the state assembly was adjourned sine die amid uproar.

As the protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema continued for the fourth day against the central government's decision to initiate the process for formation of a Telangana state, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and the central leadership of the Congress stepped up their efforts to resolve the impasse.

In what is seen as some respite for Rosaiah's government, the ministers from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions Monday decided not to go ahead with their decision to resign.

Minister for municipal administration Anam Ramnarayan Reddy told reporters that the chief minister had conveyed to all the 20 ministers from the two regions that he would not accept their resignations.

The ministers who met Sunday evening had agreed to review their decision on the request of the chief minister.

However, the ministers and party legislators from Telangana region began a separate meeting to chalk out their future course of action after speaker Kirankumar Reddy adjourned the house sine die amid uproar.

Ministers from Telangana, after a meeting Sunday night, had announced that they would not resign as the decision had come in their favour. They advised their counterparts from the other regions to abide by the decision of the central leadership.

The speaker adjourned the house amid uproar by legislators from Andhra and Rayalseema region, opposing bifurcation of the state. Congress party sources said this was done to avert a crisis as these legislators were mounting pressure on the speaker to accept their resignations.

As many as 138 legislators from the two regions had submitted their resignations during the last three days to protest the decision to initiate the process of formation of Telangana and move a resolution in the assembly. The legislators include 80 from the Congress party.

Indicating that all the parties stand divided along regional lines, the legislators from Telangana belonging to the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are also holding a meeting to chalk out their strategy. Two legislators have already quit the party protesting the leadership's flip-flop over the issue.

Chief Minister Rosaiah was also holding a series of meetings with leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema to persuade them not to precipitate the matters and wait for the final decision of the central leadership.

In New Delhi, the Congress core committee is also expected to meet and discuss the issue.