Telugu states' governor meets Rajnath Singh

Amid a raging row between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on various issues, Governor E.S.L Narasimhan on Friday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital.

Narasimhan, who is looking after both the Telugu states, is understood to have discussed Section 8 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act as the two states are locked in a bitter tussle over the issue.

The governor, who was summoned by the central government, was advised by the home minister to take immediate steps to defuse tension between the two neighbours.

Union Home Secretary L.C. Goyal was also present during the meeting, which lasted for about an hour. Narasimhan earlier held talks with home secretary and briefed him of the latest developments in the wake of cash-for-vote scam and alleged phone-tapping.

The governor's visit to Delhi assumes significance in view of Attorney General of India's reported advise to him to exercise powers under Section 8 and monitor probe into the cash-for-vote scam.

The section vests special powers in the governor to take care of law and order in Hyderabad, which is the joint capital of the two states.

Andhra Pradesh has been demanding implementation of the section but Telangana was opposing it on the ground that Hyderabad is an integral part of Telangana and that law and order is a state subject.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government of Andhra Pradesh reiterated the demand this month after Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a TDP leader in cash-for-vote scam and leak of an audio tape of Andhra Pradesh chief minister's alleged telephonic conversation with Telangana's nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson.

ACB had arrested TDP's deputy leader in Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, on May 31 while he was giving Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to induce him to vote for TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.

While Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has accused Naidu of being the mastermind of the bribery scandal, TDP has alleged that TRS government is tapping phones of Naidu and his cabinet colleagues.