Congress decision on Telangana likely today, tight security across Andhra Pradesh

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest policy making body, is likely to take a decision on the formation of a separate state of Telangana today.

According to television reports, the UPA Coordination Committee will first meet at around 4 p.m. This will be followed by a meeting of the CWC at 5.30 p.m.

These meetings come a time when the Congress high command is said to be inclined towards bifurcating Andhra Pradesh notwithstanding the opposition from within the party and its state leadership.

Meanwhile, additional forces, including CRPF, Rapid Action Forces and State Special Police, have been rushed to Andhra Pradesh, to deal with any situation which may arise in the wake of fresh developments over the statehood demand for Telangana.

According to certain media reports, Hyderabad is likely to be a Union Territory for five years and will act as joint capital of the two states to be created out of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Territory will be administered by a Lieutenant Governor. The Governor of Telangana state will be the ex-officio Lieutenant Governor of Hyderabad in these five years.

Media reports further state that a proposal to this effect is going to be put up to the Union Cabinet before August 5.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has so far reiterated his stance for maintaining a united Andhra Pradesh at any cost.

Several ministers and MPs from Andhra Pradesh have been camping in Delhi over the last 2-3 days to discuss the issue with the top leadership.

Congress MPs from Telangana have accused the Centre of following what they call a 'one-step-forward-two-backward' approach when it comes to addressing their demand for a separate state.

The Centre's flip-flop over the issue began in December 2009 when the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram promised the formation of a new state only to go back on it after a few days.

The issue was later pushed before a committee headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna. This panel did not come up with a tangible solution, but instead presented six options.

These included the creation of a Telangana Regional Council within Andhra, bifurcation of the state into Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital and Seemandhra with a new capital; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana after making Hyderabad a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana with enlarged Hyderabad metropolis as a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Rayala Telangana and Coastal Andhra; and maintenance of status quo.