GoM on Telangana to finalise report Wednesday

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will hold its final meeting in the national capital Wednesday to give final shape to its report, which is likely to be submitted to the union cabinet Thursday.

The GoM headed by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde met Tuesday but the meeting remained inconclusive. Shinde said they would meet again Wednesday.

There was reportedly no agreement among GoM members on certain issues. Wednesday's meeting is likely to give final shape to the recommendations. Ministers A.K. Antony, P. Chidambaram, Veerappa Moily, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh and Narayanaswamy besides Shinde attended the GoM meeting.

The meeting was held amid intense speculations that the GoM had decided to recommend formation of Rayala-Telangana state by merging two of the four districts of Rayalaseema with Telangana, the region which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

Suspense also continues on what the GoM would recommend with regard to the status of Hyderabad. Leaders of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) have been demanding union territory status to Hyderabad.

Pro-Telangana groups have rejected the proposals of both Rayala-Telangana and union territory status to Hyderabad.

A meeting of Congress MPs from Telangana held at central minister S. Jaipal Reddy's residence in Delhi Tuesday night resolved that the proposal of Rayala-Telangana is not acceptable to them.

Meanwhile, the law ministry has reportedly prepared a draft bill for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Sources said a team of legal experts were going through the draft to plug the loopholes. The draft bill is likely to be given final shape in the light of GoM recommendations.

The bill will then be sent to the president, who will forward it to Andhra Pradesh assembly for its opinion. Uncertainty prevails on whether the bill would come before parliament during the winter session, beginning Dec 5.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh cabinet which met Tuesday decided to convene the winter session of the assembly from Dec 12. The bill for state's division is likely to be taken up during the session.