Pawar backs Telangana state demand

In a move that could have unexpected repercussions, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today supported the formation of a separate Telangana state and hoped that the process for its formation would be expedited.

"We have been consistently supporting the demand for a Telangana state. This issue was part of the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) common agenda," Pawar said here before leaving for Warangal where the TRS was organising a rally.

The common minimum programme, however, merely supports the demand for the formation of a second states reorganisation commission and says nothing about either Telangana or the demand for a separate Vidarbha, from Pawar's own state, Maharashtra.

Pawar said the TRS need not to put pressure on the central government in this regard since it was "UPA's decision" to work towards formation of Telangana, the Maratha strongman said adding "since Telangana had found mention in the President's address, it means it is government's line and the process has already started".

Pawar said he was confident that all political parties would come around to support carving out Telangana state "if not today at least tomorrow".

Significantly, Pawar said his party was also supportive of the Vidarbha statehood cause.

TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao said the Warangal rally would provide a platform for his party to explain the circumstances that led to his party pulling out of the government in the state.

That the TRS has got one public and avowed ally in the NCP will be noted by the Congress which is in coalition with the NCP in Maharashtra.

The separate Vidarbha demand has mostly taken a toll of the Congress base in Vidarbha with even senior leaders like Vasant Sathe joining the bandwagon. Pawar could be taking this position to weaken his electoral ally in the state.