Details of TRS' merger being worked out: Digvijaya Singh

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said that details of TRS merger with Congress is being worked out.

He told reporters in the national capital Wednesday that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao indicated merger of his party with the Congress.

"We are happy that KCR met the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and the vice-president (Rahul Gandhi) and has indicated merger of TRS with Congress. The details are being worked out," said Digvijaya.

The Congress leader said they were waiting for President's assent to Telangana bill and the day of appointment of Telangana state. "We would like to see the two states start functioning as early as possible," he added.

The party plans to announce soon two separate units of the party, campaign committees and other panels for Telangana and Seemandhra.

Digvijaya, who continued consultations with party leaders from Seemandhra, advised them to take to people all positive things in the bifurcation bill passed in Parliament last week and also in the statements of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

He said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would address public meetings in Seemandhra.

He said Seemandhra would enjoy special state category status for five years while tax incentives would continue for 10 years. A special package was also announced for the backward regions of Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra.

Vatti Vasant Kumar, one of the Congress leaders from Seemandhra, raised the issue of gas allocation to Seemandhra from KG Basin. Digvijaya said some gas from the basin had to be allocated to Seemandhra and assured that the government would look into the issue.