Govt mulling next move on Telangana

The Centre appears to be bracing itself up for more discussions with political parties and groups on the issue of Telangana on the lines of the dialogue held here yesterday.

Reliable sources said the government was planning two or three rounds of more discussions with political parties and other stake holders, including students and other groups, before it firms up its mind on the nature of the mechanism to deliberate on the issue.

The sources said that there was a feeling in the government that Telangana state as an idea appeared to have arrived and it may be only a question of time before it fructifies.

The government was looking at a time line of 12 to 18 months for the whole process as two main parties in Andhra Pradesh -- Congress and TDP --  which are vertically divided on bifurcation have to make up their mind, they said.

There was a feeling in the government TRS, which is spearheading the Telangana movement, might not be averse to further negotiations.

Home Minister P Chidambaram, who convened the all party meeting yesterday, is expected to brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the deliberations before the government decides on its next move.