Congress likely to continue consultations with various interest groups and political parties.
The core committee of the Congress party today discussed its next course of action on the Telangana statehood issue, and also spent much time on discussing yesterday’s attack on Reliance outlets in Andhra Pradesh.
Home Minister P Chidambaram gave a detailed briefing to the party’s top brass on the current situation in Andhra Pradesh and his discussions with various political parties during the past few days.
The party has already asked its government in Andhra Pradesh to ensure safety to Reliance and other business establishments.
A number of Reliance outlets in Andhra Pradesh yesterday came under simultaneous mob attack after a news report on some Telugu channels alleged the role of the Ambani brothers in the sudden death of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash last year.
A top leader of the Congress said these attacks should not be allowed to spark fear among industries in a state that has already witnessed political turmoil and worsened law and order situation over Telangana.
The government is likely to continue its consultations with various interest groups and political parties to decide on the mechanism for discussions on Telangana.
There is pressure on the party from its factions in Andhra Pradesh about the very structure of the core committee.
The pro-Telangana lobby wants the committee to be headed by a retired judge. This, according to the camp, would signal that the government wants to move forward and looking at the legal options to form the state.
The anti-Telangana group, for obvious reasons, wants a politician to head the committee. The committee would first deliberate on the issue of the political decision on if at all a separate Telangana is needed. A strong section of the Congress favours to keep the committee within the political contours.
Soft pedaling on the in-house dissent over the volatile issue of Telanaga state, the Congress is unlikely to take any strong action against its rebel legislators.
While Chidambaram continues to hold discussions with various pressure lobbies, the party is trying to calm down its MPs and MLAs through a parallel process of talks.
No action is likely to be taken against MPs like Lagadapati Rajagopal and Madhu Goud Yakshi — who had been showcaused earlier for defying the party line and publicly attacking other leaders.
Rebel Andhra Pradesh minister from Telangana, K Venkata Reddy, had been pursued for the past few days and he is likely to take back his resignation after giving an explanation to the party high command. Reddy had attacked Chief Minister K Rosaiah.
The party has also ruled out imposition of the President’s Rule even as it would face the crucial task of passing the state budget soon.
However, state Congress unit president D Srinivas today looked optimist and said: “There is no need to worry. Rosaiah is functioning satisfactorily. Everything will be all right. Delhi is serious about the issue. They will look after that. Rosaiah will look after the situation here.”
Chidambaram, meanwhile, met two MLAs from actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party today. The duo, hailing from the Telangana region, asked the home minister to take immediate steps for a separate Telangana. PRP MLA Maheswar Reddy said: “Chiranjeevi took a unilateral decision by deviating from the party election manifesto which had supported a separate Telangana.” Later, a Congress delegation of party legislators, including seven MPs, from Telangana met Chidambaram to demand a “time-bound action” for creation of Telangana.
