NCP supports Telangana, says Assembly approval vital for split

Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar said his meeting with Jagan Reddy was purely related to the division of AP

YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday received partial support to his nationwide campaign against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

After a meeting with Reddy here, Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar clarified his party’s support to statehood for Telangana wasn’t new; it had extended its support about nine years ago. However, Pawar, accompanied by Reddy at a press conference, said he supported Reddy’s argument that  the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh should have been announced after seeking the due approval of the Legislative Assembly.

Pawar also supported Reddy’s argument that bifurcation of any state should be done only after two-thirds of the Assembly concerned approved the move. He clarified there was no change in his party’s stand and he wasn’t backtracking from his support to the  Cabinet’s decision on statehood to Telangana.

He, however, said NCP’s national executive would take a final decision on its support to Reddy’s demands after the decision of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The party executive would also decide whether to support amendments to the Constitution, if any, in this regard.

Pawar scoffed at reports on the emergence of a third front, saying his meeting with Jagan Reddy was purely related to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

In his statement, Reddy alleged the decision on statehood to Telangana was tantamount to murder of democracy.