The political scene has again shifted to New Delhi with Seemandhra Congress leaders making a beeline for the capital in a bid to convince the high command against taking any decision in favour of bifurcation of the State.
The Congress Core Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday when it is expected to finalise the date for the Congress Working Committee meeting, most likely before the monsoon session of Parliament begins on August 5, to discuss Telangana.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy CM C. Damodar Rajanarsimha and APCC president Botcha Satyanarayana have been asked to be available in Delhi on Friday for giving clarifications. Mr. Satyanarayana flew on Thursday night while Mr. Reddy will leave on Friday evening.
Seemandhra Ministers and others from the region plan to meet AICC leaders to make a forceful plea against division of the State on the ground that it would cause loss to the people and the party. In fact, the party would have to take the blame for the long-term consequences.
Ministers T. G. Venkatesh and Erasu Pratap Reddy reiterated their resolve to continue their struggle till the last against division of the State on the basis of emotions. But, they did not clarify their position on submitting resignations en masse if the party took a decision in favour of separate Telangana.
Meanwhile, Congress Telangana leaders are closely following developments in the opposite camp. After a meeting of available Ministers from Telangana, Panchayat Raj Minister K. Jana Reddy said the Telangana issue was under serious examination of the party leadership. He appealed to the pro-Telangana parties and organisations to observe restraint. “No amount of pressure tactics will be able to convince the party leadership for taking a decision against Telangana,” he said.
The APCC president said the high command would take a decision after considering all factors, including the feelings of the Seemandhra people.
