Parties mount pressure on Cong to clear stand on Telangana

Hyderabad: Pressure is mounting on the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh to spell out its stand clearly on the contentious Telangana statehood issue ahead of the all-party meeting convened by the Centre on December 28. Not only the opposition parties, but the party leaders particularly from Telangana region are vociferous in their demand that the Congress should first make its stand clear before seeking opinion of others. However, many feel that the proposed meeting would be inconsequential as it may not be able to yield a solution to the vexatious issue.

"It (Congress) is in power and it has the authority to decide whether or not to grant statehood to Telangana. Instead of coming clear on the issue, it is trying to create trouble for other parties," Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu said. Addressing rallies as part of his ongoing `Vastunna?Meekosam` foot march in Karimnagar district of the Telangana region, Chandrababu has been repeatedly demanding that the Congress first make its stand clear on the statehood issue. Even the Left parties like CPI and the CPI(M) want the ruling party to reveal its stand. "The Congress should certainly spell out its view. It can`t be evasive," CPI state secretary K Narayana said. Senior Congress leaders like state Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy, Rajya Sabha members V Hanumantha Rao, Palvai Govardhan Reddy and former MP K Keshava Rao too have raised similar demand. "The Congress should stick to the decision announced on December 9, 2009 (on formation of Telangana which was later put on hold)," the Telangana protagonists in the party said. Congress is under pressure to present its case not only on Telangana but also on Rayalaseema another region of Andhra Pradesh ? at the all-party meeting. Former minister J C Diwakar Reddy took up the issue with Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana while other leaders and groups from the region too made a pitch for "protection of Rayalaseema rights." Congress is yet undecided on nominating its representatives for the all-party meet even as other parties have started announcing the names. The TDP politburo is meeting on December 27 to finalise its representatives but indications are that it may send only one leader this time. "Only one leader will represent the party at the all-party meeting and speak in one voice," a politburo member of TDP said. The CPI will send its state secretary K Narayana and party floor leader in the Assembly G Mallesh while CPM announced the names of its politburo member B V Raghavulu and MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy for the meeting. State unit president G Kishan Reddy and national executive member Kambhampati Hari Babu will be the BJP`s representatives. Telangana Rashtra Samiti(TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao will himself represent his party at the meet in Delhi. The YSR Congress is yet to decide on its nominees for the meet and is expected to announce the names on the eve of the meeting. PTI