Digvijay hopes Telangana formation process would be smooth

Despite the short time available, and the strong opposition from the Seemandhra leaders, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today hoped that process of formation of Telangana state would conclude smoothly.
"I hope so," he said, when asked whether he was hopeful that the formal process of bifurcation would be smooth.
Singh, in-charge of Congress affairs in the state, was speaking to reporters at the end of his two-day visit to Hyderabad. He arrived here yesterday as the draft state reorganisation bill was sent to the AP legislature for its views.
The AP legislature has been given time till January 23 to return the bill after discussions; on the other hand, the winter session of Parliament will end this month, while Lok Sabha polls are likely early next year.

Asked if timeline can be set out for formation of Telangana before 2014 polls, Digvijay said: "President has given the state assembly 40 days. They have to send back their opinion and considered view....Before January 23."
Asked whether he is confident that the process would get through given the animosity between Telangana and Seemandhra leaders on the issue, he said his effort was to bridge the divide.
On the current stand-off in the Assembly as the Seemandhra MLAs have sought a resolution favouring united Andhra Pradesh, he said: "This is a matter to be discussed and decided by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) (of the House). What discussions take place, I cannot influence. The Speaker and the BAC take up the issues which come before the Speaker. The BAC fixes the time and schedule.