Telangana formation linked to Lok Sabha polls: CPI-M

The CPI-M Wednesday said the formation of Telangana appeared to be linked to the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, and warned that this will trigger calls to split up other states too.

"This decision seems to have been impelled by the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement. "It will give a fillip to demands for separate states in other places."

The CPI-M, which has opposed the break-up of Andhra Pradesh, said it had always stood for the integrity of states based on the democratic principle of linguistic states.

"The issue of the formation of Telangana will now have to be decided by parliament," it said.

It appealed to people of all the regions in Andhra Pradesh "to maintain peace and harmony while the matter is ultimately decided by parliament".