As the “confused” UPA-II regime and the Congress high
command are keeping their fingers crossed on the contentious Telangana
issue, plans are being worked out at both the government/party level to
avoid disastrous poll results for the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, which
sends 42 Lok Sabha members to Parliament.
Sources
claimed that without giving a firm assurance on Telangana, the party is
looking at announcing a special financial package and development
schemes for the region or a special regional development council with
its chief enjoying a Cabinet Minister rank or equivalent to Chief
Minister in protocol.
Also, in another gambit, to
prevent exodus from the Congress of its leaders in the Telangana region,
and to keep the cadres in high morale, the Pradesh Congress Committee
president post, which is presently held by Botcha Satyanarayana of north
coastal Andhra region (Vizianagaram district), could be given to a
leader from Telanagana region, sources claimed. The Centre is already in
a Catch-22 situation as conceding to Telangana demand would only help
the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), BJP and the CPI to take credit for
achieving the separate State. Considering various options, the
Centre/Congress could give interim relief to the Telangana people and
continue to drag the separate demand issue for as much time as possible
on the pretext of getting “consensus”, sources said.
Meanwhile,
briefing journalists, Congress spokesman P.C. Chacko said talks were on
the separate State demand at the highest level and no decision had been
taken. State Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, who met various ministers on
the Telangana issue on Tuesday, continued to camp in Delhi.
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