Seemandhra ministers to oppose Andhra's division

With the central government likely to announce soon its decision on carving out Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh, ministers and Congress leaders from two other regions of the state Friday made it clear that the state's division is not acceptable to them.

State ministers, legislators and other leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) at their meeting here decided to call on party general secretary Digvijay Singh to apprise him of their views.

Digvijay Singh is visiting the state from June 30, his first visit after taking over as incharge of party affairs in the state.

One of the ministers S. Sailajanath told reporters that they would also visit Delhi to meet other central leaders. "We want the state to remain united and we will do whatever we can to ensure this," he said.

Another minister T. G. Venkatesh said all those opposing the state's division were united to queries about union Textiles Minister K. Sambasiva Rao's statement that he would abide by the central government's decision on Telangana.

Talking to reporters during his first visit to Hyderabad after being inducted into the union cabinet, Rao remarked that one has to make compromise some times.

Hailing from coastal Andhra, Rao has so far been leading the MPs opposing any move to bifurcate the state.

Former state Congress chief and a leader from Telangana D. Srinivas Friday said the central government may soon announce its decision on Telangana.

He claimed that there would be no problems like in 2009 when there were mass resignations by Congress MPs and state legislators from Seemandhra after the central government decided to initiate the process for formation of Telangana state.

Union Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, who comes from Telangana, has reportedly intensified his efforts in Delhi to convince the central leadership to take an early decision on the issue.

During last few days Jaipal Reddy held talks with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders, party sources said. Digvijay Singh Thursday called on him and had detailed discussion on the issue.

The June 30 public meeting being held here by the Congress leaders from Telangana reportedly enjoys full backing of Jaipal Reddy.

Ministers, MPs, legislators and other party leaders from the region are going all out to make the public meeting a huge success.

Ghulam Nabi Azad had said on June 3 that a decision on the contentious issue would be taken this month. He stated this after two Congress MPs and senior party leader K. Keshava Rao joined Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) due to the delay in taking a decision.